Regulator little more than a rubber stamp for companies
Re: “Alberta Energy Regulator to be split in two?” June 24
As the chair of the Strawberry Landowners Group and a resident east of the Genesee Capital Power coal and soon-to-be-constructed gas plants, we just went through an approval process facilitated by the Alberta Energy Regulator.
There will be three coalfired power plants and mine expansion comprising 34 quarter-sections. There will be two new gas plants and a supporting gas line into the site. There is also the new 500-kilovolt power line.
And west of us are all of the new TransAlta developments of coal mines and gas plants.
As a result, we now live downwind of 12 coal-fired power plants and over 2,000 megawatts of new gas-fired power plants.
We asked for hearings, as well as for credible environmental assessments, including a proper cumulative environmental assessment.
What we got was a big goose egg.
In this day and age, how can there be no environmental assessments and public hearings?
The AER was nothing more than a rubber stamp and an apologist for the companies. It promotes mediation, with no community resources or any real credible public test to determine whether or not these developments were in the public interest.
I say get rid of it and replace it with a regulatory regime that has the resources and mandate to become the environmental enforcer we need in this province. And keep in mind that Stephen Harper’s government dismantled Canada’s environmental enforcement regime, one that took decades to create.
Of course, Big Coal and Big Oil do not want a credible enforcement agency, as they have been given the power to control the regime via massive deregulation of the system.
Brian Staszenski, Thorsby