A proposed $241-million power transmission project that would see some overhead power lines go underground in a residential area is fair and balanced, says a B.C. government agency.
British Columbia Transmission Corp., which is charged with shepherding the project through the British Columbia Utilities Commission, says its latest proposal serves the needs of all ratepayers in B.C., including those living in the affected area in the Vancouver suburb of Tsawwassen.
Placing the 3.5 kilometres of hydro lines underground in residential areas in Tsawwassen would cost $24 million, compared with the original proposal of replacing existing overhead lines at a cost of $3.1 million, the Crown corporation says.
The project also involves stringing new power lines along the ocean floor to Vancouver Island, which is facing a power shortage unless the project is completed by 2008. BCTC project manager Bruce Barrett says the underwater cable accounts for more than half of the $241 million cost.
But some residents in Tsawwassen are not happy with the latest BCTC proposal.
"I am extremely disappointed and shocked at the decision by the British Columbia Transmission Corp.," said Maureen Broadfoot, spokesperson for a group of Tsawwassen residents opposed to the proposal.
Barrett and other BCTC officials appeared before an angry crowd of 150 people in a Tsawwassen high school last week. Most were from the Tsawwassen Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead group (TRAHVOL, a group instrumental in forcing BCTC to drop its original concept of replacing the existing overhead power lines with new ones.
BCTC held meetings with representatives of TRAHVOL and elected officials both at the municipal and provincial level. The corporation then developed six different possibilities for dealing with the overhead power lines issue.
Barrett outlined why all the other options, save for the one of placing the hydro lines underground, were rejected, mainly for being environmentally unsafe.
But Broadfoot said in an interview that it was apparent that BCTC's proposal placed money issues over health and safety issues. "When you think that this project will costs $241 million and for an additional $5 million they could put the lines underground in areas that would not go through a homeowner's property, it becomes apparent that money is more important than the health and safety of those residents," she told Business Edge.
Residents claim the electric and magnetic field levels emitted by the underground cables are a health hazard, a charge BCTC officials deny, saying all the emissions are well within the guidelines deemed acceptable by various health organizations, including Health Canada.
In a statement after the meeting, Dennis Maniago, BCTC's vice-president of system planning and asset management, said the latest proposal is a balanced and fair solution.
"We listened carefully to the views expressed in Tsawwassen, and with community input we were able to identify a route alternative that fully meets safety and environmental protection standards," he said.
"We believe that as a result of that input we have a better proposal than we did six months ago," he added. "As a Crown corporation we have a responsibility to weigh local interests with our obligation to serve all ratepayers in the province."
But Broadfoot predicted BCTC officials will have a tough time, as they must negotiate the right to put power lines underground on homeowners' properties.
"There are about 200 families involved and I can't see this happening," she added.
Barrett also told the crowd at the meeting that BCTC has obtained a legal opinion that says they have to negotiate for the rights to lay the transmission wires underground with each homeowner.
BCTC said the B.C. Utilities Commission will likely make its ruling by January.
(George Froehlich can be reached at george@businessedge.ca)
