Recently, MLA Evan Berger supports his argument for $16.5 billion in transmission upgrades by stating the provincial demand has grown annually by “the equivalent to the city of Red Deer” for the past many years. Mr. Berger fails to acknowledge that the vast majority of the stated growth was met by ‘behind the fence’ cogeneration (i.e., electricity produced on-site by industry).
Remarkably, this cogeneration was not accounted for in the province’s forecasts. Yet, that is just the start of the shortfalls of the province’s questionable forecasts. The entity in charge of planning and operating the grid, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), claims to be an arms-length entity to government, yet its board members are political appointees. Obviously, good governance starts with sound policy. To the detriment of our province, the AESO has been ordered by our PC government to operate under a failed policy of ‘unconstrained transmission.’ This means that transmission is planned for, and built to accommodate any and all existing and future generation, regardless of its type, size, or location.
If compared to our provincial road system, the four-lane highway between Edmonton and Calgary would be 32 lanes! Just as we don’t build schools or hospitals in the middle of the bush, ‘hoping’ or ‘speculating’ that cities will crop up around them, it is utter madness to build massive power lines that we may never need, or will be utilized.
With outrageous policy and spending initiatives such as this, it is easy to see why our province runs a deficit budget, while Norway socks away more than $100 billion!
Harley Klak, Sturgeon County
