City pleased with location of Heartland Transmission line

New double-circuit overhead line approved by Alberta Utilities Commission

By

November 2, 2011

A decision by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to erect the Heartland Transmission line along the east side of Edmonton has the support of the City of Spruce Grove.

The application for the new 500-kV double-circuit overhead line was submitted by AltaLink and Epcor and approved by the AUC on Nov. 1. The approved route runs from the Ellerslie substation in south Edmonton to the Heartland Industrial Area using the East Transportation Utility Corridor (Anthony Henday Drive).

“We recognize and understand some of our municipal neighbours may be disappointed with the AUC’s decision,” said Spruce Grove Mayor Stuart Houston, “but we are pleased they have chosen to locate the line in a planned corridor that has been reserved for this type of use for many years.”

An alternate route, which would have run from an existing transmission line south of Spruce Grove adjacent to the easterly Spruce Grove city limits, had been proposed during the application review process.

“We are extremely glad the AUC chose not to approve this alternate route,” said Houston. “That land is required to meet the City’s residential growth needs and having a transmission line in the area would have made that very difficult.”

For more information on the AUC’s decision, visit the Alberta Utilities Commission website