Stelmach declines invite to controversial power line meeting

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There may have been about 500 people packed into a hall in Vegreville Alta., last night, but one man was conspicuous by his absence.Alberta premier Ed Stelmach was the only political leader who failed to attend the meeting organized by landowners seeking answers to questions they have about a proposed 500 kilovolt line planned to run from Fort Saskatchewan near Edmonton to Brooks in the south.Stelmach turned down an invitation to attend saying he had a conflict of interest because he has land near the proposed transmission line. His attendance could influence the proposed line, he told reporters at a different meeting in Vegreville earlier in the day.Bob Smook of the Vegreville Area Landowners Transmission Line Opposition Association, or VALTOA, said the turnout showed there are many unanswered questions about the line and the three controversial bills: 50, 36 and 19, that allow land to be acquired for large projects including high voltage power lines.”Clearly there is concern from everyone,” said Smook.The high voltage, direct-current power line may cross four quarters of Smook’s land.Smook said much of the meeting focused on three controversial bills passed by the provincial government in the past two years.Bill 50 was designed to streamline the process of approving power lines by giving cabinet authority to approve critical needs infrastructure.Bill 36 gave government authority to create regional plans that are binding on local government.Bill 19 allows the government to designate land for major infrastructure projects and to regulate future development within an approved project area.The landowners at the meeting directed questions to Liberal leader David Swann, NDP leader Brian Mason and Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith.Smook said there are even questions about whether the project is even necessary.”Is this infrastructure needed? If it’s for export say so,” he said.”The need has to be demonstrated.”Landowners were also concerned about the environmental footprint such a power line would make, especially if the line is located on the edge of the quarter section, where often trees and windbreaks are located and trees would be cut down.

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