It did not take long for dollars and cents to emerge as a motivating factor at the Alberta Utilities Commission's public hearings on the Heartland Transmission Project.
Monday's session was the first of what could be up to five weeks of debate at the Edmonton Expo Centre. The commission will decide what route is most in the public's interest and whether it should be built above or below ground, among other factors
The project would see AltaLink and EPCOR run a 500-kilovolt double-circuit power line along one of two possible stretches — one utilizing the Transportation Utility Corridor east of Edmonton, with the alternate option running it west near Morinville and through Sturgeon County.
When asked about cost concerns by attorney Richard Secord, Darin Watson, vice-president major project north for AltaLink, confirmed it is a factor with these kinds of facilities.
“I can't say that cost is the sole measure, but it is one of the components that must be weighed,” said Watson. “It's a balance of landowners impact, and environmental impact and cost.”
Secord is at the hearings representing the Sturgeon Landowners Group and Blue Route Utility Transmission Elimination (BRUTE).
He is one of 25 “interveners” scheduled.
Organizations, companies and individuals make up a long list of concerned stakeholders, many represented by attorneys.
Also on that list is Responsible Electricity Transmission for Alberta (RETA), long outspoken in favour of having the power line run below ground wherever it's within 800 metres of homes, schools, hospitals and environmentally sensitive areas.
Watson said burying the line was investigated as an option, and that info is included in its proposal, but not as a viable option.
It is “technically feasible,” he said, subject to testing for cold weather conditions. The option has still been dismissed as being too cost prohibitive.
“The fact that they recommend against it is very upsetting,” said RETA board member John Kristensen. “From the perspective of all of the negative health, property value, environmental safety and aesthetics, burying the line gets rid of all of those impacts.”
When Kristensen's group presents, they will be looking to push the point.
“The cost from a capital perspective to bury it is almost the same. It is slightly more than above ground — it's maybe 14 to 15 per cent more,” he said. “In the electrical transmission industry, that is chump change.”
Tim le Riche, spokesman for the Heartland Transmission Project, said due diligence has been done.
Over these past two years more than 20 open houses and information sessions have been held, and more than 200,000 individuals and groups were consulted, he said.
After hearing their concerns, this proposed eastern route through the TUC and the alternative to the west are what were seen as having the least impact, for “all Albertans.”
The plan is to have permits and licensing in place by July 2011, with construction to start by October. The line would be in service by March 2013.
“That is when we think this power is going to be needed,” said le Riche. “In fact, we think that the power is already needed.”
The proposed line would run to power plants near Lake Wabamun, where two — Sundance One and Sundance Two — were recently lost due to age and repairs being too cost-prohibitive.
