A sign along the Highway 3 near Medicine Hat's southwest city limits states "City substation not wanted here." The parcel is a preferred location for planned electrical system upgrades, but is facing opposition from Cypress County residents who live nearby.--News File Photo
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A virtual hearing into placing a new City of Medicine Hat substation in the southwest is underway and heard testimony Tuesday from Cypress County residents who oppose two potential locations.
City electric officials say the station, known as MHS11, is needed to better manage power flow throughout the city and accommodate future demand, but lawyers for both opposition groups say locations near their clients’ homes are inappropriate.
One leading critic, Jim Jackson, lives across a road from the preferred site, near the city limits at Highway 3.
He says a major power infrastructure will ruin his country lifestyle, as well as kill his investment to develop the parcel which he himself bought in 2021.
Questioning by lawyers representing the City of Medicine Hat however, suggests they believe his intent may have been to thwart the development.
“You bought the land knowing that it was the preferred site … Was that purchase to deter the city from developing the site?” said Karen Salmon, of the firm Borden Ladner Gervais.
“There’s a suggestion that I attempted to manipulate the system, but I want to make it clear that was not the intent,” said Jackson.
“The city was facing a landowner that didn’t want to sell, and today they’re dealing with a landowner that doesn’t want to sell. The city is in the same position.”
Jackson and a group of neighbours in a county residential subdivision have hired their own law firm to oppose the location.
Jackson and five other members of the “Clearview” group testified Tuesday they are also worried about ongoing noise, wildlife in the area and the potential effect of the water table, which nearby county homes use for well-water.
City lawyers reviewed Jackson’s submission in the AUC application process, in which he outlines concern for wildlife near his home.
Another group of residents of Desert Blume are against a secondary location, in a hay field near the junction of S. Boundary Road and Range Road 61A, which is the turnoff to the hamlet.
The city has budgeted $24 million to build the substation, if approved, including a contingency to build at the second site, where construction estimates are $2 million more.
The city began scouting potential locations for the station several years ago between its river valley power station and the Holsom Road area, following lines that eventually stretch down S. Boundary.
That was reduced to two locations and negotiations were begun, but concluded without an agreement before the city formally applied to the AUC for project approval.
“The land is of great value for my company,” said Jackson, stating it has the potential to be developed in a variety of ways, likely estate lots, that would “respect the neighbouring the developments,” not “a monstrous industrial eyesore” of a substation.
Jackson said he made a decision on short order to buy the land, which he saw as having residential development potential, and he believed the city would not expropriate land for a project.
“We live in the county by choice, we enjoy rural scenery, extensive uninterrupted views, sunsets, wildlife, the quiet and the darkness,” said Jackson.
“Construction of a large-scale industrial facility so close proximity to our home will have a definite impact to our quality of life.”
City officials told the commission that a major portion of the city’s south end – including areas where residential development is proposed – is currently without a backup route for power if the feeder line goes down.
Building the substation will also lessen the need to divert power from northern areas, thereby boosting reliability there, they said.
