Several Crossfield-area residents expressed concern about a proposed AltaLink transmission line route at an open house at the Crossfield Community Centre, Aug. 18.
A total of 78 residents attended and several cited concerns including environmental impact, farming inconvenience, health risks, lowered property values and low compensation for use of farmland.
The open house was intended to help gain input into $1.1 billion Western Alberta Transmission Line, which will be built between the Genesee and Langdon areas. Several routing options exist for the line, which is expected to be completed in 2014, including one in the Crossfield area.
Dave Longeway, who has lived on his 280-acre family farm since 1958, doesn’t want the line to be built on his property, which is conditionally sold pending a decision on the routing.
“It will drop our land value very substantially,” said Longeway.
“Like a lot of farmers, (our land) was our retirement. We didn’t have money to put away. The retirement plans will be off for a long time.”
Longeway would like to see better compensation for landowners who are forced to have towers built on their property.
“They’ve got to be able to compensate farmers, because all the land it goes through falls in value,” said Longeway. “Who wants to live or farm under it?”
Rocky View County resident Larry Konschuk agreed.
He suggests that lines be built along highway corridors or where other power lines already exist.
According to Konschuk, the structures are difficult to farm around.
“We have 100-foot wide sprayers and 60- to 80-foot wide seeders,” said Konschuk. “It is very inconvenient.”
Robin Boschman, AltaLink communications advisor, said Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) identified the need for a new line in 2004. AltaLink is in charge of consultation, siting, engineering, building and maintaining the approximately 350-kilometre line, which will be the first Direct Current line in Alberta.
She said AltaLink will take into account all concerns when identifying the preferred route, which will be determined by the AESO.
“The ultimate goal is to find the route with the lowest possible impact overall,” said Boschman.
“You have to take into consideration all the potential impacts. It is a balancing act.”
Leigh Clarke, AltaLink spokesman, agreed, saying the organization is in its second round of consultation on this project, and they are keen on listening and gaining input to help determine the best route.
He said the transmission line between Calgary and Edmonton hasn’t been reinforced for 30 years, although the province’s electricity consumption has doubled in the past 20 years.
“It is important to let people provide their input, but it is equally important to be open and transparent,” said Clarke. “We want to be as open as we can to provide trust or at least build people’s confidence in this project.”
