City wants transmission line buried

Edmonton wants the segment of the controversial Heartland power transmission line that runs through the city's southeast corner built underground.

AltaLink and Epcor's proposed route for the 500,000-volt line from Wabamun Lake to the industrial heartland near Fort Saskatchewan runs within 800 metres of nearly 5200 homes, the city said.

"Just imagine for a minute a 24 story tower right in your backyard," said Coun. Amarjeet Sohi. "What impact that is going to have on your quality of life.

"Having this huge electrical fence around our city doesn't send a message that our city is an attractive city to live in."

The city believes putting the line underground would be safer, look better and have the least impact on property values.

The utilities said burying the line would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but the city isn't buying it. The city estimates the cost of burying the 20-kilometre portion of the line would cost only $90 million.

If the line remains above ground, councillors said it should be built west of the city, where fewer residents will be affected.

Strathcona County and citizens groups will join the city Monday at a public hearing on the line.