The Canadian Press Posted: 06/11/2012
RED DEER, Alta. – A Wildrose MLA says a public hearing of a transmission project should be adjourned. The Alberta Utilities Commission’s hearing into the route of the Western Transmission Line began today in Red Deer. The line, which will run from west of Edmonton to east of Calgary, is one of five that were approved under Bill 50.
Joe Anglin says hearings for this and four others approved under the bill shouldn’t go ahead until the Court of Appeal rules on the commission’s jurisdiction.
Wildrose and other critics of the approved transmission lines, which will be paid for by electricity users, are a massive overbuild at ratepayers’ expense. “The transmission projects approved under Bill 50 never went through an independent needs assessment,” Anglin said.
“We need to know if the AUC can hear evidence and make a fair and impartial ruling at these hearings and until we do, the hearings absolutely should not go ahead.”