An overhead, excessive voltage transmission line is placing Enmax and a northeast Calgary group at odds, with a petition now circulating towards the utility’s proposal.
Enmax is proposing a $40 million substitute for a 138 kilovolt (kV) transmission line by the group of Winston Heights-Mountainview, which has been in service because the late Nineteen Seventies.
In keeping with Enmax, the Central Calgary Transmission Line Alternative Mission is required “to make sure continued reliability and meet the long-term wants of the electrical energy system.”
Nevertheless, the facility firm’s most well-liked route would convey the road above floor, which has charged opposition within the neighbourhood.
“We’ve lived within the space for 25 years and I’ve by no means seen folks rally round one thing like this earlier than,” mentioned Craig Baskett, who began the petition towards the proposal.
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Enmax’s most well-liked route would see the road run overhead down a residential road, alongside Munro Park and down 17 Avenue N.E. between Edmonton Path and Moncton Highway. The road would proceed overhead by the brand new Midfield Heights growth in direction of Deerfoot Path.
Enmax’s most well-liked overhead transmission line by Winston Heights-Mountainview.
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The primary concern for residents is the high-voltage transmission line could be held up by self-supporting metal monopoles, ranging in top between 22 to twenty-eight meters.
An instance of the self-supporting metal monopoles that may be used within the challenge.
Courtesy: Enmax
“We now have no drawback with the road within the neighbourhood, we simply consider that it must be buried with the opposite utilities below 17 Avenue,” mentioned DJ Kelly, a close-by resident who’s working for metropolis council in Ward 4 for the Calgary Social gathering.
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Enmax has additionally submitted an alternate route for the road that largely runs underground by Winston Heights-Mountainview, and emerges above floor between Moncton Highway and Deerfoot Path.
Enmax’s proposed alternate route, which is essentially underground.
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The utility mentioned is has to current “all comparable routes” in its utility after contemplating “technical, social, environmental and price concerns, notably the price influence on Alberta price payers.”
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In keeping with Enmax, the alternate route would add $10 million to the challenge’s prices.
“So they’re looking for to scale back prices however it is going to focus the influence on this area people as an alternative,” mentioned Alex Reed, president of the Winston Heights-Mountainview Group Affiliation.
The primary considerations for residents, apart from the aesthetic of the monopoles, embrace impacts to the group’s inexperienced house, property values and future growth within the space.
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“We’re seeing a rise of density within the neighbourhood,” Kelly mentioned. “This may discourage density alongside this explicit route, which proper now’s absolutely in growth and has different developments at present being deliberate.”
The residents plan to ahead the petition to Enmax, Enmax’s Board of Administrators, the Metropolis of Calgary Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu, Mayor Jyoti Gondek and MLA Lizette Tejada.
Chu didn’t reply to World Information’ request for remark.
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Nevertheless, the choice will probably be out of metropolis council’s arms regardless of the town appearing as the only shareholder for Enmax.
The choice on which route the transmission line will take will come from the Alberta Utilities Fee (AUC), which is ready to decide subsequent month.
In a press release to World Information, Enmax mentioned has engaged residents to share info and handle considerations with its proposal.
“This consists of answering questions and directing residents to the impartial third-party studies on routing, siting and environmental impacts in our utility and offering residents with info on what the AUC has beforehand acknowledged relating to visible impacts and impacts on property values,” a spokesperson for Enmax mentioned.
Enmax mentioned the utility is ready to proceed with building on both route, which might start in early 2026 if permitted by the AUC.
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