Updating of a hydro substation concerns citizens’ group
Group concerned over possible health risks, wants line buried
The modernization of HydroQuébec’s St-Jean substation in Dollard-des-Ormeaux is one step closer to happening following last month’s approval of the project by the Régie de l’énergie. A citizens’ group formed by homeowners who live near the facility is less than thrilled by the news.
“We are disappointed that we were not contacted about the Régie’s approval,” Jeffrey Derevensky said. Derevensky heads the citizens’ group Build It Underground Dollard-des-Ormeaux.
The group is concerned about possible health risks linked to living near a more powerful, aboveground transmission line, so they want the line buried. But HydroQuébec said sinking the line would quadruple the estimated $13 million it will cost to install an aboveground line.
Hydro-Québec spokesman JeanPhilippe Rousseau said the station, built in 1957, is outdated and needs to be upgraded to better serve its more than 10,000 customers in Dollard, Pointe-Claire, Kirkland and Baie-d’Urfé. The facility’s current 120/12-kV capacity will be increased to 315/25 kV.
Whether health risks exist is a hotly-contested subject with conflicting studies available to argue both sides of the debate.
A document compiled in 2012 — called The Bioinitiative Report and prepared by dozens of authors from 10 countries — confirmed health risks connected to exposure to power-line electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
Rousseau said the Quebec government has done health studies that say there is no clear link between elevated health risks and exposure to EMFs. (Visit //bit. ly/217asV3.)
“Sinking transmission lines is a world standard now whenever there are homes nearby,” Derevensky said. “Hydro-Québec is using cost as an excuse, despite record profits last year. It wouldn’t even be a complicated (dig) with a lot of zigzags. The right-of-way in question is a straight line.”
Last spring the group met with Robert-Baldwin MNA Carlos Leitão, who is also Quebec’s Finance minister, and presented him with a petition with more than 1,000 signatures asking the government to push to have the lines buried.
At that time, Dollard-desOrmeaux city council voted unanimously to ask Leitão for help to get the lines buried.
Contacted in Quebec City, Leitão’s press attaché Audrey Cloutier confirmed that the minister had met with the citizens’ group in his capacity as MNA for Robert-Baldwin. She said the StJean substation file was being handled by the Régie de l’énergie, an independent organization whose mandate is to “ensure the balance between public interest, consumer protection and the fair treatment of carriers and distributors of electricity.”
The Régie’s approval is but one step in a long list of protocols to be completed before the power is increased at a refurbished facility.
Environment Quebec is currently analyzing an environmental-impact study. The government must give notice that the impact study is sound — something that could possibly happen by the end of the month. Then, there will be a series of public information sessions organized by the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE); the possibility of a public consultation, also organized by BAPE; an evening for interest groups to present briefs; a report presented to the Environment Ministry by BAPE based on the briefs; and, finally, a government decision.
Derevensky said his group is determined to be heard.
“We will most definitely be presenting a brief,” he said.
If all goes as planned, the estimated completion date for the project is spring 2020.