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Alberta Environment turns down request for assessment of powerlines

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Alberta Environment quickly turned down a call this week for an environmental impact assessment on the proposed Heartland Transmission Line.

The call for the assessment came from the group Responsible Electricity Transmission for Albertans (RETA) which has opposed construction of the proposed 500-kilovolt double-circuit powerline across Sturgeon County along one of two routes, and wants it buried underground.

RETA president, Bruce Johnson, said they simply want someone to look into the project’s environmental cost.

“Somebody needs to provide some form of oversight into these projects.”

In April 2008, environmental assessments were removed as a requirement for building a powerline, but the environment minister still has the authority to order one.

Jessica Potter, a spokesperson for Alberta Environment, said the requirement was removed because the department has a great deal of experience with powerlines. She said there was no need for an assessment in this case because the environmental impacts will be examined during Alberta Utilities Commission hearings.

“As part of the Alberta Utilities Commission process they require the applicant to provide quite a significant amount of environmental information.”

Johnson challenged that if Alberta Environment doesn’t see a need for an environmental assessment there shouldn’t be a need for the department.

“I think if enough Albertans think it is an issue then perhaps Alberta Environment will earn its keep. If, on the other hand, all Alberta Environment is intent upon is appeasing industry then perhaps we can save the taxpayers some money.”

Given the powerline will be one of the largest in the province when constructed and cross several natural areas, Johnson said there needs to be further study.

The utilities commission hearings are inadequate to answer the lingering environmental questions, he said.

“These experts get a week to prepare and then they are on the stand for a few hours. That is not really a substitute for a full study that should be done.”

The AUC is set to review the proposed powerline route in April and will look at two options.

The preferred route takes the line from coal-powered generating plants near Wabamum, south of Edmonton and then through the transportation utility corridor on the east side of the capital before heading north.

The alternate route would see the line extend from Wabamum and go north through Sturgeon County near Villeneuve before heading east to the industrial heartland north of Morinville.

Johnson said RETA is doing everything it can to try and convince the government to re-examine the lines and their routing.

“I am not suggesting that an environmental study is the only avenue we should pursue, but at least we should have some sort of independent inquiry on the impact of these things.”