Residents Fight Proposed Power Expansion

November 25, 2009.

Residents fight proposed power expansion

ctvedmonton.ca

Thousands are expected to rally Tuesday evening at Rexall Place to fight a proposed power expansion in Alberta.

A massive power-line is proposed to go in one of four routes around the city. The organizers of the rally say an expected large turnout will help them get their message out loud and clear to the Alberta government.

“The larger the turnout, the stronger we feel the message as far as sending the Alberta government the message that we need to start burying these (power) lines like they are in the rest of the world,” said John Kristensen with Responsible Electricity Transmission for Albertans (RETA).

The group says they’ve asked a researcher from Trent University to help with their fight.

Magda Havas says burying the power-lines is the safest way to go. And that would help to eliminate electrical fields and weaken magnetic ones. Havas believes Health Canada should be doing more to protect Canadians.

“The area around high voltage lines is a wasteland and it should never be a place where we put schools or playgrounds,” said Havas.

And many Edmontonians plan on attending Tuesday’s rally to support RETA’s message.

“I think everybody needs to get involved in it and make sure that the right thing is done,” said Diane Shusheski.

Two reports are still expected to come out soon, which will give residents a better sense of how much underground lines in and around the city will cost.

A decision on the power transmission routes is expected sometime in January.

With files from CTV’s Rob McAnally

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