County Council considers new routing proposal for Fort McMurray West power line

Barrhead County Councillors were all on the same page when discussing the best possible route for the Fort McMurray West 500-kilovolt Transmission Project during their regular council meeting on Tuesday, May 5.

A letter sent to council in March from Alberta PowerLine briefed Barrhead County Councillors on an alternative route for the transmission project.

Council made a motion to respond to Alberta PowerLine with their preferred route, the west route.

Neither route runs straight to Fort McMurray, with both making one stop along the way.

The west route runs through Barrhead County, on its way to a substation called Thickwood. The east route travels through Westlock, a route that councillors believe would disturb too many residents.

Both routes are approximately 500 kilometres long.

In the beginning of this year, Alberta PowerLine hosted a series of open houses to inform the public of the two optional routes for the transmission line, which is being developed to meet the demand for power in Northern Alberta.

It was during those open houses that a third route was suggested.

The route travels west of George Lake, approximately one mile from Highridge.

Coun. Bill Lane was the first to comment.

The route that travels parallel to an existing power line is most preferred, Lane said, adding the residents are “used to it already.”

It’s because the residents are used to it being on their skyline that Lane believes it is the best of the three options.

“I would like to see it go that way,” Lane said.

Coun. Darrell Troock agreed with Lane.

“I think the west route would be better. As Bill said, the folks there are used to the line,” he said, adding his concern is with the Westlock route.

“There’s a lot more residents who are going to be interfered with all the way up the line,” he said, adding the west route does have a downfall.

The west route runs through agricultural areas, which will require more work, and maintenance, Troock said, however it disturbs less residents.

Coun. Ron Kleinfeldt added that the swampy areas might be a concern.

“Once you get passed the forest area there is a lot of swamp, (which is) probably one of the reasons why they (Alberta PowerLine) don’t want to go there,” Kleinfeldt said, adding he believes it’s the best option.

Coun. Marvin Schatz said he spoke to residents at one of the open houses.

“I talked to some of the farmers down there, and they don’t really have a whole lot of concern,” he said, when discussing the west route.

“They are used to having the other ones run through it,” he added. “I don’t see a problem with it going on the west line.”

Deputy Reeve Doug Drozd also supported that route.

Council made a motion to send a letter to Alberta Powerline supporting the west route.