The Peter Sutherland Sr. Generating Station is now operational.
The multi-year, $300-million project — which is a partnership between Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Coral Rapids Power, a company wholly owned by Taykwa Tagamou Nation — is located on New Post Creek, about 80 kilometres north of Smooth Rock Falls.
Named for a respected community elder, the station has two units providing 28 megawatts to the provincial power grid —enough to power 25,000 homes.
The project team installed two turbines, a steel penstock, a 340-metre-long open channel, a spillway dam and a seven-kilometre transmission line.
The turbines use a portion of the water flowing down New Post Creek to generate electricity by moving water 250 metres through a penstock to the power house on the Abitibi River. The remaining water will continue to flow over the falls to maintain its natural beauty.
“This project has gone well due to the relationship we’ve built on a foundation of respect and trust,” said Coral Rapids president Wayne Ross. “There have been many benefits for our community including good paying jobs, transferable skills, and a long-term revenue stream.”
Construction on the generating station began in late 2014 and, at its peak, created work for 220 people. Kiewit and Aecon were the contractors for the project.
The partnership has resulted in more than $50 million in contracts for community businesses and about 50 community members worked on the project.
Jeff Lyash, president and CEO at OPG, said the job was completed with no lost-time injuries.
The Peter Sutherland Sr. Generation Station went into service on March 31.
