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Heartland community hearings announced

Sturgeon County residents will get to go one-on-one with a provincial panel this April to help decide the fate of the Heartland Transmission Project.

Sturgeon County residents will get to go one-on-one with a provincial panel this April to help decide the fate of the Heartland Transmission Project.

The Alberta Utilities Commission announced Tuesday that it would hold six community hearings this April as part of its inquiry into the Heartland Transmission Project. That project involves a 500-kilovolt double-circuit powerline that, if built, would cross Sturgeon County along one of two routes.

These sessions are for groups who want to make a brief statement about the line without sitting through days of testimony, said spokesperson Jim Law. "For those people, this a perfect opportunity."

Residents will have up to five minutes to speak one-on-one with the three-member panel examining the line.

With few exceptions, the neighbourhood hearings will be held in the same spot as the information sessions that the commission held last year, Law said. Morinville's hearing will be in St. Jean Baptiste Hall on April 21, while Bon Accord's will be in the town's community hall on April 25. The commission might add more sessions if there is enough interest.

The commission also announced that the main hearing, scheduled to begin April 11, would be held at the Edmonton Expo Centre.

"The application is considered complete as of today," Law said Tuesday, meaning it could proceed to a formal hearing.

The commission's panel will now hear arguments for and against the line route to determine if it is in the public interest. The hearing will consider many issues, including routing, environmental impact, and burial, and is expected to last up to four weeks.

Residents must register with the commission by Feb. 28 if they want to participate in the hearing, Law said, whether through a written statement, a community hearing, or the main hearing. "If you're not already registered, you need to register with us by Feb. 28."

Ready to testify

The panel granted standing to about 188 groups at a public meeting last November, including Sturgeon County and Responsible Electricity Transmission for Albertans (RETA). Anyone who lives within 800 metres of the line's proposed right of way also has standing.

RETA spokesperson Bruce Johnson said he was glad the panel decided to hold these neighbourhood hearings.

"It allows for more input from more people," he said, and helps out those who can't make it to the main hearing. He encouraged interested residents to attend the main hearing as well if they had the time.

Johnson said his group was gathering its expert witnesses in preparation for April's hearing, and had budgeted some $530,000 for its case. He encouraged line opponents to focus on the need for the line rather than the more divisive issue of its route. "We all need to stand together on this."

The public hearing begins at 9 a.m. this April 11. Call 780-427-4903 to register.

Heartland in your community

The Alberta Utilities Commission will hold community hearing sessions at six locations this April as part of its inquiry into the Heartland Transmission Project. All hearings start at 7 p.m.<br />o April 19: Spruce Grove Elks Hall, 400 Diamond Ave.<br />o April 20: Sherwood Park, Coast Edmonton East, 2100 Premier Way<br />o April 21: Morinville, St. Jean Baptiste Hall, 10020 100 Ave.<br />o April 25: Bon Accord, Community Hall, 4931 50 Ave.<br />o April 27: Fort Saskatchewan, Lakeview Inn & Suites, 10115 88 Ave.<br />o April 28: Edmonton Woodvale Facility & Golf Clubhouse 4540 50 St.<br />Registration deadline is Feb. 28. Call 780-427-4903.


Kevin Ma

About the Author: Kevin Ma

Kevin Ma joined the St. Albert Gazette in 2006. He writes about Sturgeon County, education, the environment, agriculture, science and aboriginal affairs. He also contributes features, photographs and video.
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