Group urges Hydro-Qubec to avoid woods in proposed line to northeastern US

A non-profit group that manages a forest in southeastern Quebec says it can't support aHydro-Qubecplanto build an 80-kilometre power linethat would go through the forest.

If built, the linewould be linked to another 300-kilometre line built in the U.S. by energy company,Eversource, in an effort to bringHydro-Qubec'spower to the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The $125 million line would go through theHereford forest in the town ofSaint-Hermngildein the Coaticook region.

Fort Hereford, thegroup that manages the forest, stressed during the hearings that it received the 65-square-kilometrestretch of land as a donation,and with it came legal obligations that would be not be respectedif the utility's project goes ahead as planned.

"The donor says 'You are not going to have any structure on the forest and you have to conserve and you have to protect,'" said the group'svice-president Franois Bouchy-Picon.

"And this is forever, this is what we agreed to."

According to Bouchy-Picon, theagreement makes it impossible for his organization to be on board with Hydro-Qubec's proposal, despite previously stating that it would not oppose the project.

"It's against the will of the donor," he said.

They would prefer the line run underground, near the forest, but not through it.

• Deforestation concerns voiced during hearings into Hydro-Qubec project

Burying the line not an option, Hydro-Qubec says

Several critics of Hydro-Qubec's plans saythat if about one-third of the U.S. portion of the power line will be buried, Hydro-Qubec should do the same.

But not only does the utility maintain it has no choice but to have the line run through Hereford forest, spokesperson SergeAbergelsaidan underground line is much more expensive than an aerial line.

He added thatburying the line in the forestwould do more harm than good.

"Of course, to bury a line, you have to dig trenches everywhere," Abergel said."You have to literally cut a trench through the milieu, through the environment."

• Hydro-Qubec looks to northeastern U.S.

Hydro-Qubecalso saidit has worked with FortHereford andadjusted its proposal in order to minimize the project's visual and environmental impact.

It also points out that 80 per cent of the power line will run parallel to an existing one.

Thehearings kicked off last month and many groups and residents have told the panelthe proposed line would causetoo much deforestation in southeast Quebec.

The BAPE has until Jan. 25, 2017 submit its report to Environment Minister David Heurtel.

If approved, Hydro-Qubec would begin building the line in fall 2017. The hearings continue Thursday.