On March 21, we filed an application with the Public Utilities Board to expand Bay d’Espoir by adding an eighth unit, and to build a new combustion turbine near the Holyrood Thermal Generating Station – assets that will continue to serve Island customers with safe, least-cost and reliable electricity. This is an exciting milestone at Hydro, and a significant stride toward our plan to meet future electricity demand and power our province.

In line with our commitment to transparency, keeping our employees, local residents, and the public informed is a cornerstone of our Major Projects process. We’re not only planning, we’re sharing, and most importantly we’re listening. Throughout the process, we’re hosting employee information sessions, public open houses, and media visits to share insights into the planning, application, and development stages for the proposed Avalon Combustion Turbine and Bay d’Espoir Unit 8. These events are fostering meaningful discussions and have collected valuable feedback to help guide the next phases of the projects.

In March, our Major Projects team visited Bay d’Espoir to host an employee information session and share details about the refurbishment of Penstock 1 and the proposed addition of Unit 8. The session encouraged open dialogue about the project’s necessity, construction plans, and safety measures, with thoughtful questions and suggestions from attendees. Later, we held two well-attended public open houses for residents and other interested groups, providing information sheets and interactive displays that highlighted the construction timeline, environmental assessment process, and other key aspects. We were pleased with the strong turnout and engagement and remain committed to keeping all stakeholders updated as planning and approvals progress, and as activity increases at both the Bay d’Espoir and Holyrood sites.

We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has worked diligently to advance this planning process, and to all those who support our efforts by ensuring the continued reliability of our existing systems. Your dedication makes this progress possible.

To learn more about the Major Projects planning and development process, please visit the ‘Build Application Summary’ document on our Power the Province website. This resource will be regularly updated as we move forward with these exciting new developments.