Alberta hearings begin for controversial power lines

Hearings into two controversial transmission line projects will begin in Calgary Tuesday and move to Edmonton next week.

The projects, the Western Alberta Transmission Line through the Calgary-Edmonton corridor, and the Eastern Alberta Transmission Line from northeast of Edmonton to Brooks, are needed to make Alberta's power network more reliable and efficient while accommodating long-term growth and encouraging new generation, says the province.

Critics maintain the province wants to use the lines to export power to the United States. 

Landowners, electricity producers, and large and small consumers will make presentations to a review committee in Calgary Jan. 10 - 12, and in Edmonton Jan. 18 - 20.

Anyone interested in the lines are invited to view the proceedings in person or listen to an audio webcast. Times and locations of the presentations and a link to the audio webcasts will be posted at www.ctrc-ab.ca.

The committee, chaired by Brian Heidecker and includes electricity experts Roy Billinton, Joseph Doucet, and Henry Yip, will provide a report to Minister of Energy Ted Morton by Feb. 10.