October 21, 2016 – More federal money—$18.9 million more, to be exact—is headed to the Northumberland Strait Submarine Transmission System project in Prince Edward Island. This brings the Government of Canada’s total contribution up to a maximum of $68.9 million, representing 50% of the total eligible project cost, with the provincial portion at $73.6 million.

Spanning 17 km from Cape Tormentine, N.B. to Borden, P.E.I., the submarine transmission system supplies approximately 75% of the Island’s electricity, according to Infrastructure Canada. Installing the two new 180MW power cables will provide uninterrupted service for Islanders and cost-efficient energy, it adds.

“A new and larger capacity cable interconnection has been the province’s top infrastructure priority,” said Paula Biggar, PEI’s minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy. “Although Prince Edward Island generates approximately 25% of its own electricity from wind, Islanders still must have access to reliable off-island power. This will be achieved through this new interconnection to mainland Canada.”

“The new electricity connection will secure our province’s energy future, support business growth and protect Islanders against the risk associated with the existing aging cables,” added PEI premier Wade MacLauchlan.