Deforestation concerns voiced during hearings into Hydro-Qubec project

Several individuals and groups are raising concerns about the countless trees that will be cleared to make way forHydro-Qubec's planned80-kilometre powerline through the Eastern Townships.

The BAPE, Quebec's environmental review agency, kicked off hearings into the projectlast nightin Sherbrooke.

Hydro-Qubecis teaming up with U.S. companyEversourceto supply power to the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island for the $1.4-billion project.

The proposed power line wouldincreaseHydro-Qubec'scapacity to export electricity tothe New England states.

AndrRoy, presidentof southern Quebec'sforestry producers union, was among several people who expressed concerns about the 280 hectares of deforestation that would take place ifHydro-Qubec'sproject goes ahead as planned.

"Will Hydro-Qubec replace the trees that will be lost when they buildthis power line?" he said.

Environmental impact to be minimized, Hydro says

The 320-kilovolt power line,which would cost $125 million,would go from the town of Val-Joli, Que.to the New Hampshire border.

Hydro-Qubec spokesperson Serge Abergelsays the project's environmentalimpactwill be minimizedby having most of the power line run parallel to an existing 450-kilovolt line.

"We conceived smaller [electric]pylons so we wouldn't need to clear as large a path," saidAbergel. "We've also avoided wet lands, forest areas that may have certain types of plants that should not be disturbed."

The portion of the power line that wouldn't run parallel to the existing one a 15-kilometre longstretch beginning north of the town of Saint-Hermngilde, Que.and ending atthe New Hampshire border will pass throughthe Hereford forestin the town of East Hereford, Que.

• Hydro-Qubec looks to northeastern U.S.

The conservation group Hereford Forest isnot against the project, but says it was puzzled as to why the public utility never considered putting the lines underground, an optionHydro-Qubecsays would betoo expensive.

"It's extremely costly," said Abergel. "We're talking about four to ten times the cost an aerial line."

Others, such as Nature Conservancy of Canada's Hubert Pelletier, saythe project as environmentally backwards.

"This project contradicts the Quebec government's stated aim of encouraging land conservation," he said.

Hydro-Qubec plans to begin building the line in the fall of 2017, with it slated to begin operating in 2019.

The BAPE hearings will continue this afternoon.