Calgary

Organic farmer vows to resist AltaLink power lines

An organic farmer in central Alberta is promising a fight if AltaLink proposes a controversial power line pass through his land.

An organic farmer in central Alberta is promising a fight if AltaLink proposes a controversial power line pass through his land.

The Calgary-based electrical transmitter’s Red Deer Area Transmission Development project will reinforce the electric system between the Wetaskiwin and Didsbury areas, said company spokeswoman Robin Boschman.

But Gert Lund, who grows certified organic vegetables near Innisfail, about 100 kilometres north of Calgary, said he will fight the company if his land is on the proposed route.

"If something happens, my fields get contaminated, I will lose my certification. And that takes three years to get back," Lund said.

"I don't think AltaLink really knows the seriousness of this," he said.

But AltaLink will continue to listen to landowners as it settles on a final route, said Boschman. 

"Our goal is to find the lowest overall impact route. No decisions have been made," she said.

Once the company announces its final proposal, it will still have to be approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission.

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the project in question was one slated to run between Calgary and Edmonton. In fact that project is separate. The relevant project is actually the Red Deer Area Transmission Development, which affects the area between Wetaskiwin and Didsbury.
    Oct 09, 2011 12:36 AM MT