Work delayed on power line from Alberta to Montana

subscribe

Construction of a 214-mile power line expected to carry wind-generated electricity between central Montana and Alberta has been delayed by at least five months because of appeals in the United States and Canada.

Bob Williams, vice president of regulatory affairs for Montana Alberta Tie Ltd., a subsidiary of Tonbridge Power Inc., said construction has been pushed back from March to this fall.

"We continue to be very excited about this project and the benefits it will bring to Montanans and Albertans," he said.

About 130 miles of the $140 million transmission line would cut through Cascade, Teton, Pondera and Glacier counties. It would carry up to 300 megawatts of power in each direction between Great Falls and Lethbridge, Alberta.

But developers in north-central Montana are waiting for the line's construction before proceeding with proposed wind farms, and some landowners are objecting to the locations of the line's poles.

Williams said Canadian landowners have appealed a construction permit issued by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, and the outcome is now in the hands of a three-judge panel at the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Scott Stenbeck, an attorney for the landowners, said his clients disagree with the board's stance that the line couldn't be moved outside a two-kilometer corridor set by the National Energy Board. The landowners also want MATL, a private company, to prove that the project is in the public's interest.

The proposed transmission line also has faced opposition in Montana, where three landowners are appealing the route to the state Board of Environmental Review. Those cases are scheduled to be heard in May.

Related News

canadians-support-tariffs-on-energy-and-minerals-in-us-trade-dispute

Canadians Support Tariffs on Energy and Minerals in U.S. Trade Dispute

OTTAWA - A recent survey has revealed that a significant majority of Canadians—approximately 75%—support the implementation of tariffs on energy exports and critical minerals in response to trade tensions with the United States. This finding underscores the nation's readiness to adopt assertive measures to protect its economic interests amid escalating trade disputes.​

Background on Trade Tensions

The trade relationship between Canada and the United States has experienced fluctuations in recent years, with both nations navigating complex issues related to tariffs, trade agreements, and economic policies. The introduction of tariffs has been a contentious strategy, often leading to reciprocal measures and…

READ MORE
working at home at night

Covid-19: Secrets of lockdown lifestyle laid bare in electricity data

READ MORE

suspected russians hacking usa power system

Russia suspected as hackers breach systems at power plants across US

READ MORE

Three New Solar Electricity Facilities in Alberta Contracted At Lower Cost than Natural Gas

READ MORE

ev

British Columbia Halts Further Expansion of Self-Driving Vehicles

READ MORE