Sea Breeze Power Corp. announces that the United States Army Corps of Engineers has issued a Permit authorizing the installation of the Juan de Fuca Cable Project ("JdF Cable") on United States soil and seabed. The Permit represents the conclusion of US Federal and State permitting requirements for the JdF Cable and is a milestone achievement in the development of the 50-km, 550-MW High Voltage Direct Current Light® ("HVDC Light") international submarine transmission cable.
The Permit is issued by the Army Corps in accordance with the policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A separate certification has also been issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology, which certifies that the Project's construction will comply with the strict water quality and pollution measures regulated by the Department.
The awarding of the Permit is another major milestone in the development of the JdF Cable following the June 2008 issuance of the Presidential Permit by the United States Department of Energy.
Sea Breeze Power Corp. CEO Paul Manson said: "The receipt of these Permits is a tremendous accomplishment for the JdF Cable, and the partnership developing it. The HVDC Light® technology that will be utilized offers minimal environmental risk. It is a preferred alternative to traditional high voltage overhead lines that often raise concerns related to visual impact and perceived health risks from fluctuating electromagnetic fields."
"HVDC Light® technology is sited underground and underwater and requires minimal dredging and disruption to its route. This has allowed us to satisfy the rigorous requirements of the Federal and State agencies that have issued these Permits," Manson said.
When installed, the Juan de Fuca Cable will connect Vancouver Island with Washington State's Olympic Peninsula providing a much needed alternative to the congested I-5 corridor for the transmission of power between British Columbia and Washington State. The JdF Cable will create additional opportunities for the increasingly active West Coast power trading markets.
The Juan de Fuca Cable is being developed through a joint venture between Sea Breeze Power Corp., Boundless Energy NW, Inc., and United States Power Fund, LP, a private equity fund managed by Energy Investors Funds ("EIF").
