November 30, 2009

Alberta power line bill passes into law

Alberta has passed controversial legislation that will limit public input on plans to erect billions of dollars worth of new power lines.

Energy Minister Mel Knight says the legislation is needed to meet Alberta's future power needs and prevent blackouts.

But critics of Bill 50 say the power lines being proposed are simply not needed now that Alberta's economy has cooled in the current recession.

Joe Anglin, one of the founders of a grassroots protest movement, says Albertans will face hefty new costs on their utility bills to pay for the new power lines.

Anglin says the legislation bypasses the existing regulatory process and gives the government new powers to approve power line projects.

Alberta made a policy change several years ago that pushed the entire cost of new power lines onto consumers rather than sharing the costs with utilities.

-Canadian Press

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