Cold last to nights, winter wheat down to Kansas effected!

[Kathy]

I have a copy of Joe Anglin's power-point presentation given in Hanna on the 6th of February. At first, I was confused about some figures (MW versus MW.h and generator capacity etc.), but Joe has set me straight. If anyone wants a copy just email me at lkczar@hotmail.com


Three Dollars per month extra on our bills for the building of these HVDC power-lines! What is Brian Heidecker smoking??

Edmonton Journal article from January shows ATCO and ALTA LINK have already committed to spending millions on projects. ATCO claims their line will only cost 1.6 billion, while ALTA LINK claims their western line will only cost 1.4 billion - for a total of 3 billion. RIGHT! Where's the guarantees?
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/alberta-politics/200M already spent proposed transmission lines under review/6006888/story.html

"$200M already spent on proposed transmission lines under review - Firms told to stop spending on $3B project

ATCO and AltaLink have already spent about $200 million - money consumers could ultimately be on the hook for - on two proposed Edmonton-Calgary transmission lines that are now under review, according to Alberta Energy.

The ministry has requested the two builders and operators of the respective lines to stop spending on the $3 billion project until a Critical Trans-mission Review Committee appointed by the premier reports Feb. 10." [see link above for rest of article]

Heidecker stated it was imperative that at least one of the lines goes ahead right away... my guess it will be the ATCO line, since they have spent a significant amount of cash and effort to prep sites for their camps etc.

Also, in Joe's power-point it shows maps from joint Canadian/American transmission line proposals and it appears the east-HVDC-line is the main branch; allowing all the excess power from Fort MacMurray (co-generation) to make its way south to California.

[Kathy]

Check out this letter from City of Airdrie Alderman Allan Hunter, to Premier Alison Redford - regarding the bullying and cussing of Minister Liepert at a recent meeting with Airdrie Council:

http://www.albertalandownerscouncil.com/Feb%2002,2012-Alderman%20Letter%20Regarding%20Minister%20Liepert %20Cussing.pdf

[sumdumguy]

Alberta used to be a leader. Sask stood by and
watched in awe as your resource weath
benefitted albertans. Low taxes, no sales tax
cheap booze and gasoline. The wealth trickled
down to feather the nest of every albertan.

I really dont know what happened. It seems so
out of control now. Fill me in.

[kato]

Interesting. Three billion for two lines going from Edmonton to Calgary? What is that, about 300 km? That's a lot per km, isn't it?

Manitoba Hydro is working on one that goes from the north, to Winnipeg, and takes the long way around the lakes (which is a whole other controversy), and they're quoting 3.28 billion so far. That's for over 1000 km of line.

Two provinces, worlds apart.

[Steve_Winkler]

You got that right! Froze the one day then back up to 75-80 degrees. Great holiday though! My two little princesses had the time of their lives.

[grassfarmer]

If only it were so simple kato. Truth is the $3billion
figure is bogus - it will be way more than that. This
is not really about an Edmonton-Calgary power line
its about lines built for export.
What the plan really involves is using taxpayer
money to build power lines which will be given to
for profit corporations and on top of that the
Government has guaranteed them a 9% annual
return on the investment which they didn't make
(the taxpayer paid).
Imagine that in farm terms - the Government buys a
farm, sets up the buildings and facilities and gifts it
to a farmer and also guarantees them an annual
return of 9% on the capital value of the assets. You
can bet the next generation would all want to farm
with a deal like that in place!
And you think Manitoba is a crazy place to live? Here
it looks like the lunatics are running the asylum.

[BTO_farmall]

JumpinJackFlash, it's a gas! Gas! GAS! I would not be concerned one bit. Christ my Winter Wheat already half made, Few Timely Rains, & We's got another one fer The Record Books. Can't wait to hear that first sounda The Drill Fan this Spring...........

[kato]

Wow.

Here there is no hiding the fact that our line is being built primarily for exporting power. There are markets in the U.S. lined up to accept it now. The money from the exports is put back into Manitoba Hydro, and keeps our rates lower, as you can see. I guess the main difference is who gets the profits.

Interesting how attitudes are different just two provinces apart. That old "Ten Little Countries" theory of mine at work again. Hydro is one little bit of the theory that actually seems to work to a Manitoba advantage, which is nice to see for a change.

[rhoff]

remember a while ago when we had the week of -30? well our soil was still around -6 after that so Im still optimistic the stuff will grow.

[Kathy]

A word of caution regarding exporting power to the bankrupt USA. At a meeting in Trochu last year, a gentleman from the crowd informed people that the province of British Columbia has not been paid for selling electricity to the state of California, for over 5 years worth of exports.... how can that be profitable? The point being the USA is going to TAKE TAKE TAKE - and there is no guarantee, or much hope, of us getting paid for the power we export here in Canada. The Transnational corporations like TransAlta, will simply keep the money they make from exports somewhere else in the world, where they are exploiting the citizens.