Nova Scotia Power says 'no' to burying Strait of Canso lines

The MLA for the riding of Inverness says it's time for Nova Scotia Power to bury its power lines across the Strait of Canso, but the utility rejects the idea as four times costlier than building new transmission towers.

The power utility plans to add transmission towers and lines on the Canso Causeway to carry the electricity that will come from the Maritime Link project.

Allan MacMaster told Information Morning Cape Breton that this would be the time to think about burying power lines, before construction begins on the extra towers.

He said there would be at least a couple of benefits to burying the cables.

First impressions

"One, the broader benefit for the tourism industry and for people visiting our island: When they get here, I think we need to be thinking about what people are seeing and ensuring that they have a real special experience here," he said.

"And when they come on the island, that's the first impression they have and, putting another set of towers across the strait, I'd rather see it buried. I think it would look a lot better."

MacMaster said there's also a practical benefit to burying the lines. The towers have flashing white strobe lights that shine into the windows of nearby homes at night, which he calls "an inconvenience."

Nova Scotia Power has investigated the option of running lines underground or even underwater, spokesman David Rodenhiser said in an email.

Expensive burden

"It would have cost four times the cost of overhead lines, which would be an expensive burden for customers," he said.

He said customers will be the ones to pay for the transmission line project.

"We take a very close look at all expenses, because we are focused on providing stable, predictable prices for our customers," he explained.

MacMaster acknowledged the much greater cost of underground lines.

"It would cost more but if you're looking at amortizing that cost over a long period of time, much the way they are looking at the transmission lines between Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island, to me, it's something I think they should be looking at."