A landowner coalition will finally get its chance to formally speak out against the Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project.
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) launched a public hearing Oct. 12 regarding two proposed routes for Alberta PowerLine’s $1.49 billion project.
The transmission line will extend from Sunnybrook Substation near Wabamun to Fort McMurray, taking either a west route through the County of Barrhead or an east route through Westlock County.
The hearing will run until Nov. 25 and AUC external relations director Jim Law said there would be about 25 presentations from the applicants and interveners — those affected by the project — who will then be cross-examined by the other group.
The largest intervener group, the East Route Landowners Opposition Group (ERLOG), has about 175 people registered.
ERLOG’s lawyer Richard Secord said the coalition will present its stance near the end of October, or beginning of November, although a date has not been set.
Initially, the AUC hearing was scheduled in June, but massive wildfires in Fort McMurray delayed the process to Sept. 19. The hearing was then pushed back again to October following constitutional challenges from several indigenous groups.
ERLOG co-ordinator Dean Dumbeck said a diverse set of members will speak.
“There are 15 of us that represent the line from the south end to the north end and we’re going to portray our concerns that way,” he said. “Each person will speak about how it impacts them and the adverse affects of this route on us. It’s a good variation from acreage owners, families, farmers, 100-year farms, all that kind of stuff.”
He noted that the issues range from lowered property values to health side effects, unsightly views and cleared trees, but the biggest impact would be on agriculture.
“It’s pretty much virgin ground from north to south in Westlock County,” he said. “In Barrhead County, or the west route, it’s mostly paralleling the existing line. In Westlock County, it goes on the quarter (section) line and it’s eliminating nearly all the windbreaks that have been planted or naturally grown over the years that are separating quarter lines, so quite a big loss there for soil erosion and wind.”
Alberta PowerLine will provide a financial settlement to affected landowners before and after the line goes through, but Dumbeck said they are only offering a one-time payout. Landowners who end up with a tower will receive annual compensation, but will likely have to split it with their neighbour if the tower is built on the property line.
From his own observation, Dumbeck predicted the west route would end up as the preferred route.
“(Alberta PowerLine) approached us with conceptual payout but nothing with a chequebook in hand,” he said. “The west route, they actually have issued cheques already, so that’s good for us. It’s looking up for us.”
According to Alberta PowerLine’s website, the transmission line is expected to be completed and in service by 2019.
