AltaLink submits transmission line application

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

AltaLink has recently submitted their application for the Western Alberta Transmission Line to the Alberta Utilities Commission, AUC. They have submitted an outline of both their preferred route, which has the lowest impact, and the alternate route. 

The preferred route has the lowest residential, agricultural and environmental impacts and is about 300 kilometres long. 

The alternative route runs east of Highway 2, but it is not the recommended route. 

Leigh Clarke, Senior Vice President of External Engagement, said in a previous interview that the AUC likes to see a preferred and alternative route, which is why AltaLink presented both. 

“Having that year long consultation and having two rounds of consultations, has allowed us to learn things we couldn’t have if we had tried to rush this process,” said Clarke.   

“It also gave us the opportunity to be really transparent with Albertans.” 

AltaLink has been consulting with stakeholders since January 2010, and have hosted 23 open houses, 15 information centres and done more than 1,500 one-on-one consultations with stakeholders. 

“The process now is in front of the utility commission. I expect that (it), that could take up to a year to get through that process,” said Clarke.

“Folks who don’t agree with our assessment of what the best route is will have an opportunity to challenge that.” 

Clarke hopes they will hear a decision before the end of the year and then get to work on this project. He said he thinks they are on track for getting the project in place by 2014, for which like the Independent System Operator, ISO has been asking. The AUC is currently holding information sessions so stakeholders can learn more about the hearing process. If the project is approved by the AUC, construction could begin in 2012. To find out when the information sessions with the AUC is taking place, go to www.auc.ab.ca and click on the Western Alberta Transmission Line.