The governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada has approved the environmental assessment for the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project, Nalcor Energy has announced, with the company currently reviewing the governments’ responses.
“The environmental assessment process is an important planning tool, and we’ll incorporate the conditions required as part of the project’s release into our planning and design work as we move forward,” said Ed Martin, President and CEO, Nalcor Energy.
The environmental assessment process for the Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project was initiated in 2006 with Nalcor registering the project with the federal and provincial environmental regulatory bodies. Over the last five years this project has been intensely studied and there’s been significant stakeholder engagement and public input into the planning process.
The Lower Churchill project is comprised of Muskrat Falls with 824MW of power (first phase) and Gull Island with 2250MW (second phase). Power from Muskrat Falls has been billed as a long term, stable source of clean, renewable energy for provincial electricity consumers and the future development of Gull Island will offer opportunities to support continued industrial development in Labrador and provide additional clean, renewable energy for export.