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8 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2007 Best Price, Best Service Since 1972 FAX: 519-853-1559 379 Queen St., Acton ON L7J 2N2 519-853-1553 888-833-8953 Our office will re-open Monday, July 30 We look forward to seeing you then. We are on Vacation O N T A R I O S N E W C L E A N E N E R G Y C O R R I D O R Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One) has initiated a Project under Ontarios Environmental Assessment Act (the Act) to build an approximately 180 kilometre double circuit 500,000 volt (500 kV) transmission line on a widened existing transmission corridor connecting the Bruce Power facility (Bruce) in Kincardine to Hydro Ones switching station in Milton (Milton). The Bruce to Milton line will provide the capability to reliably and safely transmit approximately 3000 additional megawatts of electricity from the Bruce area to southern Ontario and support the Provinces climate change and clean air initiatives. The Provinces newest clean energy corridor will deliver emission-free power from new wind generation, and the refurbished Bruce Power nuclear units. The earliest in-service date for the new line is the end of 2011. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA), the provincial agency responsible for developing a long-term Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP) for the Province, has determined the need for this transmission line, the timing and the preferred route. The OPAs analysis looked at various options to increase the capacity of the electricity transmission system in southwestern Ontario. Its final recommendation considers the technical requirements, total system capacity, provincial land use policy and the overall cost to Ontario electricity consumers. The OPA has recommended that Hydro One begin the approvals process required to build the new 500 kV line from Bruce to Milton. The new line is expected to be located immediately adjacent to the existing transmission line on a widened corridor. Additional easement interests of approximately 53 m to 61 m (175 200 feet) in width adjacent to the existing corridor will be required as shown on the study area map. In a limited number of cases, property purchases will be required where homes or buildings occupy the widened corridor. The Environmental Assessment Process The Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project EA is being undertaken in accordance with the Act. The first step in the process is the preparation of a Terms of Reference. If approved, the Terms of Reference will provide the framework for the preparation of the environmental assessment. The Terms of Reference will set out Hydro Ones work plan for addressing the requirements of the Act when completing the environmental assessment. Consultation Members of the public, property owners, stakeholder groups, First Nations and Metis groups, government agencies and other interested persons are encouraged to actively participate in the planning process including the development of the Terms of Reference by attending consultation opportunities or contacting staff directly with comments or questions. Consultation opportunities are planned throughout the planning process. A first round of Public Information Centres (PICs) will be held in communities along the proposed transmission line to provide information about the project and the approvals processes, and to obtain input from residents, farmers, business owners and other interested stakeholders in the area. We will also be seeking input from First Nations and Metis groups through a separate engagement process. We encourage you to attend one of the PICs, where you will have the opportunity to learn more about the project, provide your input, and discuss any issues or concerns with our project team. Public Information Centres Monday, April 30, 4 8 p.m. Best Western Governors Inn 791 Durham Street, Kincardine Tuesday, May 1, 4 8 p.m. Hanover Regional Aquatic Centre, Auditorium 269 7th Avenue, Hanover Wednesday, May 2, 4 8 p.m. Egremont Optimist Centre 392137 Concession 2, Holstein Thursday, May 3, 4 8 p.m. Marsville Community Hall 191282 13th Line, Marsville If you wish to be added to the project mailing list or would like further information about the project, and any future public meetings, contact: Carrie-Lynn Ognibene Hydro One Networks Inc. Tel: 1-877-345-6799 (locally 416-345-6799) Fax: (416) 345-6984 Email: Community.Relations@HydroOne.com Website: www.HydroOneNetworks.com/BrucetoMilton For more information about the Ontario Power Authority and the need for the new transmission line, visit www.powerauthority.on.ca. Monday, May 7, 4 8 p.m. Grand Valley and District Community Centre Grand River Room 90 Main Street North, Grand Valley Tuesday, May 8, 4 8 p.m. Erin Community Centre/Erin Centre 2000 Shamrock Room 14 Boland Drive, Erin Wednesday, May 9, 4 8 p.m. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 197 15 Wright Avenue, Acton NOTIFICATION Commencement of the Environmental Assessment of the Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project Terms of Reference For further information visit www.HydroOneNetworks.com/BrucetoMilton Please be advised that any of your personal information contained in your submission will become part of the public record files for this matter and may be released, if requested, to any person unless your submission states that you do not consent to your personal information becoming part of the public record files and disclosed to any person upon request. Bringing Power to the People of Ontario Council wants to help residents affected by hydro line twinning Route of hydro corridor No pros, cons for new changes New development must pay for itself By Frances Niblock As property owners af- fected by the proposed twinning of the Bruce to Milton hydro corridor band together to protect their interests, Halton Hills coun- cillors are looking for the best way they can help. At its meeting last Mon- day, Town Council delayed final approval of spend- ing up to $21,200 for a consultant to review the terms of reference for an environment assessment of the proposal, until the August council meeting after learning the ratepay- ers had formed their own group to look after their joint interests. The project needs approv- al under the Environmental Assessment Act and from the Ontario Energy Board. The proposed corridor will affect 62 properties in Halton Hills and four fami- lies expect their homes to be expropriated. All along the corridor, property owners have joined a ratepayers group Powerline Connections and have hired a lawyer to ensure there is a fair analysis of alternatives and fair compensation for affected landowners. Rural Councillor Bryan Lewis questioned why the Town still needed to hire a consultant since the rate- payers group had hired a lawyer to do much of the same work. Maybe theres some other way we can offer help, guidance and as- sistance before we run off and spend $21,200, Lewis suggested. Town staff said while there would be some over- lap or parallel work, there would be good value in the consultants work for the Town and every effort would be made to avoid duplication. Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette, who suggest- ed hiring the consultant to review the terms of reference and seek fair compensation, noted when he made the suggestion, they didnt know that the citizens were organizing themselves so profession- ally with a lawyer. He said theres still merit in the Town hiring a con- sultant because there are natural heritage features that must be protected in Halton Hills and the option of expanding the corridor to the west of the exist- ing corridor, not the east as proposed, should be studied to provide another analysis. Jim and Julie Vail will lose their rural Acton home where theyd planned to raise their children and then retire if the twin- ning is approved as their Highway 7 property abuts the existing corridor. They are in negotiations with hydro offi cials who will assess the value of their property this week. The Vails have not joined the Powerline Connections group, mainly because they believe an expansion to the east of the existing corridor, as suggested by the ratepayer group, would be just as bad as expansion to the west. Were going to move either way, whether it is built on the east or the west (of the existing corridor), Julie Vail said on Monday, adding they believe the project will be built. Hydro officials were out at our house last Fri- day to start the process of getting our land val- ued. Theyll be back on Wednesday or Thursday (today) to actually begin determining how much it is worth, Vail said, adding they will move ahead with the buyout if the fi gure is right. We chose not to delay the process we are in limbo and cant do any- thing with our home and it doesnt make any sense for us to sit here and wait for the axe to drop. The proposed 500kV line twinning project would involve construc- tion of 180-kilometres of double-circuit line from Bruce to Milton, and the target date for service is 2011, with an estimated cost of $635-million. No one from the public spoke for or against proposed substan- tial decreases and increases in the Towns Development Charges (DCs) at a public meeting last Monday at the Civic Centre. Based on the premise that new de- velopment should pay for itself so existing taxpayers dont foot the bill for new services, the Town charges developers fees to cover the capital costs of fi re protection, roads, parks and recreations, parking, public works, libraries, general govern- ment and stormwater management. The fees are worked into the price of a house. From now until 2016, the Towns growth-related capital costs for those services is $74.4-million. A consultant hired by the Town said approximately $36-million of that amount has been identifi ed by as eligible for recovery through new development charges. The proposed residential devel- opment charge rate for a single or semi-detached unit would increase by 39 per cent to $11,634. The proposed rate for non-residen- tial development would decrease by 21 to $23.61-per metre for industrial development, and increase by 98 per cent to $59.57 for other non-residen- tial development. If approved by councillors at their August meeting, the new develop- ment charges would make Halton Hills charges lower than those in Brampton, but higher than those in Cambridge. The rates would be also be lower than Halton Regions development charges. The consultants summary said the proposed increases are a refl ection of increased service levels, higher construction costs, changes in antici- pated growth and fi nancing costs. Town Council will debate the proposed new development charges at its August13 meeting.