EDMONTON — A critic of Alberta’s massive multibillion-dollar electricity upgrade says developments this week give hope the scheme will be scuttled before skyrocketing power bills drive businesses away.
Keith Wilson was reacting to revelations in WikiLeaks that Alberta was pitching the idea of sending more power to the United States if only it could get more transmission lines built as far back as 2003.
Wilson also notes that three of the six candidates seeking to replace outgoing Premier Ed Stelmach this fall now want to revisit the legislation that has helped make possible $14 billion in proposed power line construction.
The legislation allows cabinet to bypass public hearings and automatically order up a transmission line if it deems the line critical.
Wilson has been criss-crossing the province telling packed houses of landowners that’s way too much power than what is needed, and that the costs and power bill hikes will force businesses to leave.
Among the leadership contenders, Ted Morton is calling for an independent review of the legislation, saying he doesn’t believe some of the construction is needed.