PRINCE GEORGE / TERRACE — The provincial energy strategy reached a critical implementation point on January 30, 2026, as Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix officially opened the competitive bidding process for data centre connections to the electrical grid.
This novel approach, enabled by the Energy Statutes Amendment Act passed in late 2025, is inextricably linked to the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL)—a multi-billion dollar “nation-building” project designed to break the energy bottleneck across Northern B.C..
Electrification of the Golden Triangle
The NCTL project is the vital piece of infrastructure for the Skeena region, doubling the capacity of the current 500-kilovolt radial line that runs 450 kilometres from Prince George to Terrace.
Minister Dix highlighted that the line is a “necessary step” for the electrification of the Golden Triangle, a mineral-rich zone that has historically been off-limits to large-scale mining due to its reliance on expensive, high-emission diesel generation.
The project is being developed in three key phases:
- Phases 1 & 2: Twinning the existing line from Prince George to Terrace (estimated at $6 billion).
- Phase 3: Extending the grid 350 kilometres north of Terrace to Aiyanish and Bob Quinn Lake, providing up to 600 megawatts of clean power to the region.
The recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BC Hydro and the Nisga’a Nation to power the Ksi Lisims LNG floating terminal illustrates this strategy in action. By securing 600 MW of clean energy, the terminal aims to be net-zero by 2030, giving B.C. a competitive advantage in the global lower-carbon energy market.
Competitive Grid Access for Data Centres
The new bidding process for data centres marks a shift from the traditional “first-come, first-served” model to one of “highest public interest”. Under the new framework, BC Hydro will offer 100 megawatts for data centres and 300 megawatts for AI projects every two years.
The Province will prioritize bids based on:
- Economic Benefit: Specifically, the ratio of high-paying jobs created per megawatt of power consumed.
- Data Sovereignty: Their contribution to Canada’s internal information security and computing infrastructure.
- ESG Alignment: Commitment to net-zero operations and local community engagement.
“We are avoiding the mistakes seen in other jurisdictions where growth outpaced infrastructure, resulting in soaring bills for residential ratepayers,” Dix told reporters. By requiring data centres to pay their “fair share” for the NCTL’s capacity, the policy ensures that Northern residents do not subsidize the massive energy demands of the global tech sector.
A Multi-Generational Impact
Once operational by 2030, the NCTL is expected to create 9,700 direct full-time jobs and contribute nearly $10 billion annually to B.C.’s GDP. For the Skeena region, this means the transition from a diesel-dependent past to a future defined by clean energy, critical mineral production, and high-tech industrial stability.
