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Waneta Expansion Project Benefits Region – 2013 Socio-economic monitoring report released

CASTLEGAR, B.C. – The Waneta Expansion Limited Partnership (Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation and Columbia Basin Trust) is pleased to release the 2013 socio-economic monitoring report, demonstrating significant employment, training and economic benefits to the region from the Waneta Expansion Project.

The $900 million project, immediately downstream of the existing Waneta Dam, has an independent contractor monitoring the social and economic impacts in the local area. The contractor works with a Community Impact Management Committee to ensure the quarterly and annual public reports are available and relevant to communities.

“The owner is very proud of the steadily increasing benefits our project is bringing to the local area,” said Audrey Repin, spokesperson for the Waneta Expansion Project. “The report shows continuous benefits to our communities as we deliver on our commitment to local hiring and regional spending.”

To view the full 2013 report visit www.columbiapower.org/SEM2013. Highlights of the report include:

Employment

  • Almost 94,000 person days (equivalent of one person working an eight-hour day) of employment;
  • Employment income totaled over $26 million, with almost $20 million going to local workers;
  • 69 per cent of the workforce resided within 100 km of the project;
  • 10 per cent of the workforce voluntarily declared themselves as part of an equity group (female, person with disability and/or visible minority) and seven per cent of the workforce came from an aboriginal ancestry; and
  • Steadily increasing number of apprentices on site, peaking at over 50.

Local expenditures

  • $52 million was allocated to local businesses for the purchases of goods and services, bringing the total to $177 million.

Safety

  • Over 784,000 person hours logged with one lost-time incident.

The project’s construction activities are currently focused on: drilling, blasting and excavation of the tailrace, concrete and formwork in the intake area, electrical and mechanical work in the powerhouse, assembly of the rotors and stay rings, and completion of the transmission line work.

The Waneta Expansion Limited Partnership (WELP) is a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation, and Columbia Basin Trust. Columbia Power manages construction of the project on behalf of WELP. On a forecast basis, the project is on budget and is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2015. For more information please visit: columbiapower.org/wanetaexpansion

For more information contact:
Audrey Repin,
Waneta Expansion Project Spokesperson
Phone 250.304.6044
Cell 250.365.9502

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