Enbridge Inc. could begin construction as early as this spring on a major expansion of its natural gas pipeline system stretching from Fort St. John to Vancouver, pending federal approval.

The "Sunrise Expansion" project aims to bolster the southern portion of the company’s West Coast Pipeline system, a network that has served British Columbia for nearly seven decades. 

According to Enbridge spokesperson Rawnna Low, the expansion is a direct response to rising regional energy needs.

"This project is proposed to meet the demand for natural gas," Low said.

A significant portion of the development—nearly 80 kilometers—is slated to run through the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. 

The route spans from north of Mackenzie to just south of Hixon. For local officials, the project represents a critical economic lifeline for a region hit hard by the decline of the timber industry.

"We’ve seen a huge downturn in forestry in the last two years," said Jerrilyn Kirk, Area “G” Director for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. "Because of that, we have families that are suffering, and this could bring much-needed jobs into the area."

Enbridge estimates the project will generate approximately $2.4 million in municipal taxes for the district over the next 35 years. 

The labor demand is also substantial; Low projected that peak construction will require over 1,300 pipeline workers, along with an additional 100 personnel dedicated to compression station upgrades.

While Director Kirk acknowledged that some residents remain concerned about the environmental footprint of the pipeline, she noted that the project—alongside other industrial ventures like Vitreo Minerals and Defense Minerals—offers a "glimmer of hope" for the local economy.

The federal government has 90 days to review the proposal. If the project clears the regulatory hurdle, Enbridge aims to break ground in the second quarter of this year.