Re: the MATL transmission line project from Lethbridge to Great Falls (AF Feb. 2), I found myself wondering if MATL has already acquired a permit to export electricity. TransAlta has an NEB permit to export 17.5 million megawatts to the U.S. annually and Encana has applied to export another five million. Meanwhile MLAs and ministers keep insisting that these mega lines are “desperately needed” if we are to avoid brown-outs and that they are “absolutely/ definitely not” for exporting electricity.
Albertans are being forced to pay for these lines, while these energy moguls own the lines and are guaranteed a nine per cent rate of return on their investment. If we protest, we are cast as villains and law-breakers.
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Bills 19 and 50 relieve utility companies of having to “prove need” for their projects, strip landowners of their rights, and allow the government to seize private land. And Bill 36 puts private land under direct control of the premier and his ministers. All three bills facilitate the ease with which the PC government acquires land for their various projects and/or regional plans. Despite repeated proclamations regarding this government’s “intent” and/or “intention” to consult, co-ordinate, respect landowners’ rights and such, it appears (according to the Feb. 28 article) their actions pit both government and RCMP against landowners.
What a sad state of affairs when we read, in this so-called democratic province, statements like, “this gentleman … feels that property rights are worth dying for. Hopefully such a consequence can be prevented.” Nobody should have to “die” for his/her property rights in Alberta.
The irony of this is, that despite repeated threats of brown-outs, AESO’s Current Supply Demand Reports show that we do not “need” these mega-transmission lines. We generate more electricity in Alberta than we can use. Yet these utility companies, with the help of government legislation, are getting Albertans to finance their export lines.
M. Leithead Bawlf
