Millvale Road residents part of power line route search

Maritime Electric is hoping to narrow down the options for its proposed high-voltage transmission lines in P.E.I.'sMillvale Road area.

The utility's original plan was to build a 10kilometre line and new substation in the area to handle increasing power demands.

But residents onlyfound out about the plan on Easter Monday, when work crews started cutting trees.

After much opposition, the utility formed a working group with residents to come up with alternate routes.

Kim Griffin from Maritime Electric says the group will offer up some of its suggestions at a meeting in New Glasgow Tuesday night.

"Right now, there's people looking at it," said Griffin. "They looked at our old routes, but then there are people that have the map out, and they're looking at a number of areas in and around the community.

"Some of them are looking at farm fields, they're looking at some areas in cross-country. We're at the stage now where we're really trying to gather as much information."

Griffin said the utility would prefer to not put the lines in farm fields.

"Corporately we're trying to have options along the right-of-wayjust because it's easier to access and less environmental impact," said Griffin.

She also pointed out thatstorms have made itvery challenging to get to lines that are in the "back country."However Griffin said land owners would be offered compensation,if farm fields were used.

Will consult residents further

Griffin said after hearing the suggestions from the meeting Tuesday, the utility will narrow down feasible options, and then begin consulting residents along those routes.

"Everybody around the table wants to find a solution in my opinion, and I've been at some of the meetings, and I think it's a really good working group," she said.

"We may not please everyone, that's going to be the challenge. But I think that we're sitting at the table trying to find a solution"

Griffin said the hope is to complete the $1million project this year, but she added construction won't begin until residents have had their say.

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