Aside from trampling our property rights with their outrageous land bills, it is appalling that the present Conservative government, under the pretext of the Alberta Utilities Commission, continues to give companies such as ATCO and AltaLink absolute authority to construct power lines of every description and peril, without regard to health issues, inconvenience, public safety or concern.
In all of recorded history, the AUC has yet to make even one significant concession in favor of a landowners’ preference as to where a line might be located. Breaking this protocol would be an admission they might finally lose the tremendous “power of authority” they hold over us.
Have you noticed, power lines keep getting higher and heavier? You can estimate this by multiplying the number of insulators by 20 kV. The hazards of elf’s (extremely low) and emf’s (electro-magnetic forces) intensify with amperage, while ionizing radiation and corona pollution increase with the square of voltage.
Fortunately, injurious effects of power lines decrease to the square of distance.
Britain and many European countries prohibit high voltage lines near residences, schools, businesses and roadways. Over 50 years of testing and survey reveals that living within 400 metres of a 133 kV power line is dangerous to our health and extremely detrimental to children and young adults. Why is no one telling us about this?
The fact is Alberta does not test for adverse effects of power lines and has no standards compelling anyone to do anything. This is why we continue to build residences next to power lines and power lines adjacent to roadways, schools and businesses.
A growing concern among Albertans is that dangerous power lines, or portions thereof, should be buried or abandoned. How long can this discrimination continue? Find out on April 23 — your vote can make a difference.
Louis K. Berg.
(former power electrician for the City of Edmonton)
Red Deer