Manitoba Hydro says a lot of careful study and consultation went into choosing its final preferred route for a new hydro transmission line through southeastern Manitoba. The Manitoba Minnesota Transmission line will run south between Richer and La Coulee, then just east of La Broquerie and Zhoda as it makes its way to the Canada-U.S. border.
For a detailed map click here.
Scott Powell, Manager of Public Affairs for Hydro, says there are many technical and environmental factors to take into account in addition to the concerns of landowners.
"Sometimes, somebody says: Why can't you move the line a kilometre that way? Well that may solve a problem for two people but it creates a problem for five others. So, you really do have to balance off all the competing interests and that's why we go through such an extensive public engagement process."
Powell says some people have asked why the line doesn't follow existing transmission lines in the bush further to the east. He explains there is a good reason for that.
"Part of the technical aspects when you're routing transmission lines is to try and maintain some form of separation. You want to be in a situation where a single weather event, whether it be a tornado or a severe microburst, doesn't damage two lines. That's one of the reasons for Bipole III. We have two Bipoles in the Interlake that run side-by-side and there's a vulnerability there. The same goes for this line. We have the one 500 kilovolt line that currently runs to the U.S. and we want to have some separation."
With the announcement of the route, Hydro has filed an Environmental Impact Statement. That will trigger a formal regulatory review process where the public will have an opportunity to comment. Hydro hopes to have the 213 kilometre line built and in service by the summer of 2020.
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