Page 88-89 - Global Renewables Online January 2012

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GLOBAL RENEWABLES ONLINE - JANUARY 2012
environmental practices for a
power company, we implemented
these years ago,” McClinchey at-
tests. “While we are part of Brook-
field, Great Lakes Power itself hasn’t
changed much. We are trying to
be consistent with the original pro-
cedures that originated here, and
now we have passed them on to
other companies.”
These procedures extend to
community relations practices. “Be-
ing a transmission company, there
is lots of interplay between us and
our property owners/customers.
Our lines corridors go into remote
areas of Ontario, there has to be a
lot of dialogue with First Nations
and property owners. Consistent
dialogue means a good working
relationship,” he continues.
Great Lakes Power introduced
sustainability initiatives many years
ago, in order to successfully
maintain assets in Northern On-
tario. The company supports
snowmobile and ski club trails, and
has a program that works with First
Nations to take care of species local
to the areas the company serves.
“We are always looking at the needs
of our communities and recognizing
when there is a potential for
beneficial involvement for the
community, which in turn supports
our business and our name in the
public.”
Great Lakes Power runs specific
environmental programs tailored to
their business objectives and
community needs.
One of the programs run by GLPT
is Corridors for Life, which has been
in operation for six years. In
partnership with a host of First Na-
tions (including Batchewana, Gar-
den River and Michipicoten groups),
environmental and academic stake-
holder groups, the company initiated
the Corridors for Life project which
is designed to help protect and
restore habitat and fish and wildlife
under GLPT transmission lines. The
company works with the Ministry of
Natural Resources to evaluate how
they can minimize their environ-
mental impact.
“Corridors for Life has been very
successful. We developed a manage-
ment plan with our partners, and it
has been a huge learning opportu-
nity for everyone.”
The Algoma District Wood Turtle
Project was implemented in 2006,
and was formed to determine wood
turtle critical and suitable habitats
in the District of Algoma, including
areas that are associated with GLPT
transmission lines. In partnership
with the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, the University of Guelph
and the Community Involvement
Fish & Wildlife Program (CFWIP)
information was gathered to be used
in managing this highly diverse
multi-use area so that the wood
turtle population will be protected
and sustainable. The project also
aims to gather additional data to
better understand the wood turtle
behaviours and the potential impact
and mitigations to be implemented
“We are always looking at the needs of our communities and
recognizing when there is a potential for beneficial involvement for
the community, which in turn suppor ts our business and our name in
the public.”
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT - GREAT LAKES POWER