Meeting dates have been chosen for the Critical Transmission Review Committee, an expert group appointed by the Alberta Government to review two high-voltage transmission lines between the Edmonton and Calgary regions.
The meetings will take place in Calgary, Jan. 10-12, and Edmonton, Jan. 18-20, with invited stakeholder groups making presentations. Times and locations have not been determined.
The meetings are not open to the public, but will be recorded and made available online in some format, said committee chair Brian Heidecker.
ìWe will receive a little bit of very sensitive corporate information, but excluding that, my attitude on everything I have approached, (is to) put all the cards on the table,î said Heidecker.
ìWhat is there to hide?î
To date, 36 groups representing landowners, electricity producers and large and small consumers have been invited to provide written submissions by Jan. 6.
These groups will have an opportunity to present their conclusions and observations directly to the committee and answer any questions from the expert panel in a public forum, according to a government press release.
The committee, appointed earlier this month, has begun its review and had several briefings from the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).
The AESO has provided background information on its role, the Alberta electricity market, policies and legislation, transmission development and a detailed history and overview of the north-south lines to the committee.
Once it has received all the submissions, the committee, comprised of Heidecker, Dr. Roy Billinton, Dr. Joseph Doucet and Henry Yip, will provide a report to Minister of Energy Ted Morton by Feb. 10. The report will include the committeeís comments and recommendations regarding the reasonableness of several key elements of the AESOís north-south transmission plan and amendments to the Electric Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, formerly Bill 50.
Heidecker said he is expecting a number of presentations both in favour and in opposition to building the controversial lines, a portion of which is proposed to be located north of Crossfield.
He said he is encouraging the invited stakeholders to attend and make presentations.
ìCome and tell us what you think we should know and have some kind of material to back up your statements,î said Heidecker.
ìYou never get everyone on the same page but I think we need to have an informed, intelligent conversation. It is an extremely important decision for all Albertans as to how are we going to get our electricity supplied for the next 20, 30, 40 years. You have got to get it right.î
The applications for the two proposed transmission projects, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, were before the Alberta Utilities Commission and were set for public hearings in November and January.
However, the hearing was adjourned in October pending government review.
