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Power struggle shaping up |
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Written by Dave Mabell Lethbridge Herald
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Tuesday, September 29 2009, 9:29 PM |
The Stelmach government is ditching democracy in its rush to build new power lines and what’s worse, says Lethbridge MLA Bridget Pastoor, they’ll be privately owned but taxpayers will pay the bill.
There are no reports showing the lines are needed, she said Tuesday. More regional power generation is a lower-cost alternative.
Pastoor cited Enmax, one of the province’s major power suppliers, as one of many voices joining in opposition to the Conservative government’s plans to spend billions on high-capacity transmission lines needlessly.
“We really need a lot more information,” the Liberal MLA said.
Yet the Stelmach government wants to kill public process on the matter, she said, allowing corporations to take over farmers’ land and build the lines despite public opposition. Before any lines are built, Alberta law says public utilities regulators must hold hearings in the areas affected.
“Not holding public hearings is absolutely anti-democratic and dictatorial,” she said during a press conference. “But that’s how this government operates.”
The Tories signalled their intention to short-circuit public involvement when they introduced Bill 50 last May, she said. If passed this fall, it would authorize immediate construction of a number of power lines between Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray.
“The projects will cost billions of dollars,” she warned. “And hard-working Albertans will pay 100 per cent of the bill, hundreds of dollars extra every year on our power bills.”
But rather than serving the interests of Albertans, she said, those lines could become power export lines for northern Alberta companies aiming at an American market. The Montana-Alberta line heading south from Lethbridge could be followed by far larger schemes.
Southern Albertans will pay for these major projects, she said, even if they receive none of the benefits.
“Public consultation is absolutely necessary when we’re talking about these projects, because they have an impact on every single Albertan today and for generations to come.”
A less costly alternative, Pastoor said, is power generated close to its market. In southern Alberta, much of that is wind power. Around Calgary, she said, Enmax proposes to build an 800 megawatt energy centre to meet that city’s growing needs.
“It’s cheaper and better for the environment than building a new line from Edmonton and shipping the power south.”
When Albertans and their government are facing financial constraints, she added, it’s a poor time to embark on extravagant spending plans without a proven need.
“We have all learned to sit down in these tough economic times to make a family budget, involving all members of the family to ensure that everyone understands and can abide by it,” she said.
“The government needs to do the same.”
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