AltaLink almost ready to submit application for new transmission lines
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
It’s taken a year of assessments, consultations and numerous open houses, but AltaLink is confident they have found the best route for the new transmission lines. Early in 2011 they will be submitting their application to the Alberta Utilities Commission, AUC.
“I do believe, having been on the front line at all of those open houses and many of the conversations at kitchen tables, that we have identified the route that has the lowest (amount of impact),” said Leigh Clarke, Senior Vice President, External Engagement.
“Again every route has impact and for those folks that would be on the route that is ultimately approved, clearly we’ve got to work with them on an ongoing basis.”
Alberta has grown by more than a million people and electricity use has more than doubled in the last 30 years, and yet nothing has been done to upgrade the transmission system. AltaLink has been working diligently to find a solution, and a route, to upgrade the transmission lines. They have come up with a preferred route and an alternate route.
“We’ve arrived at two routes that we’re going to put forward to the utility commissions,” said Clarke.
“One is the preferred route that will connect the Genesee area to Langdon, to reinforce the transmission system in Alberta and to keep up with all the growth.”
The alternative route runs east of Highway 2, but Clarke said AltaLink would not be recommending that route. He said the AUC likes to see a preferred and alternative route, which is why AltaLink will be presenting both.
The preferred route has the lowest residential, agricultural and environmental impacts. The route is about 300 kilometres long, and Clarke said it only impacts approximately 15 residences within 150 metres. He said they will be working closely with the people in the 15 residences to try to mitigate the impacts and compensate them well.
“I think we’ve done a pretty good job at finding the routes with the lowest overall impact,” said Clarke.
“All routes have impacts and it’s up to us to have listened well, done our homework and we’re absolutely prepared to continue talking to people and working with them to reduce the impact that we will have.”
The residents along the preferred route were notified early in December. If the residents don’t agree with AltaLink’s research and findings, they will have an opportunity to appear at the application hearing. They can oppose AltaLink, and submit their own evidence to defend their case, and the costs to do so will be covered. Clarke said they will be doing consultations right up until the time they submit the application to AUC.
“I suspect we’ll hear from some folks this week that want to talk about some more specific issues now that we’ve made our decision. I welcome those conversations,” said Clarke.
Clarke said a debt of gratitude is owed the people who have taken time out of their busy schedules to provide their concerns and input into the routes being considered. He said that because of the input given, some routes were dropped and there were even a few new routes added. Clarke is confident that as long as they have done their homework and correctly identified the route with the lowest amount of impact, the AUC should likely approve their preferred route. The general consensus at AltaLink is that most of 2011 will be taken up by the commission’s process. They are hopeful they will have a decision by fall. Clarke said a project of this magnitude will take two years to complete once construction has begun.