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Manitoba Hydro Line


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The NDP leadership race raised the issue again.

Many First Nations groups are now pushing for the east side to look at seriously.

Latest of the experts to comment on the dangers of running down the west side of Lake Winnipeg.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/w...e-59833092.html

The selection of transmission line routing should be based on sound engineering practices as well as economic, environmental and ecological considerations. The decision to distance Bipole III from Bipoles I and II was to avoid losing all three lines in the event that a similar climatic event that toppled Bipole I and II 1996 should occur again.

In conclusion, Manitoba has the distinction of pioneering the world's longest HVDC transmission lines when Bipoles I and II were built. The performance record has been impeccable and reflects the capability of Manitoba Hydro's engineering department and the private consultants that contributed to the success of Bipole I and II.

The routing of Bipole III on the west side of Lake Manitoba will severely compromise the reputation of Manitoba Hydro as this simply is not "Power Smart".

I think some people remember that event well.

Now that Doer will be gone in a few weeks, this issue must be looked at with more honesty. It is a hugely expensive venture to run it down the west side and if we lost the entire network in a storm as we did in 1996, it could spell catastrophe.

And now that First Nations are weighing in, it makes no sense to say "case closed."

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The NDP leadership race raised the issue again.

Many First Nations groups are now pushing for the east side to look at seriously.

Latest of the experts to comment on the dangers of running down the west side of Lake Winnipeg.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/w...e-59833092.html

I think some people remember that event well.

Now that Doer will be gone in a few weeks, this issue must be looked at with more honesty. It is a hugely expensive venture to run it down the west side and if we lost the entire network in a storm as we did in 1996, it could spell catastrophe.

And now that First Nations are weighing in, it makes no sense to say "case closed."

This writer doesn't make any sense, he's saying both east vs. west sides of both Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. I don't even have a clue what the deuce he's talking about.

I'd say East Side of Lake Winnipeg would be best, less populated area, and it's a straighter line.

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This writer doesn't make any sense, he's saying both east vs. west sides of both Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. I don't even have a clue what the deuce he's talking about.

I believe the newspaper corrected that error in the print version of the paper.

It should read east and west sides of Lake Winnipeg.

I'd say East Side of Lake Winnipeg would be best, less populated area, and it's a straighter line.

This is the side that Doer rejected and one of the leadership candidates said the issue should be looked at again. Given the huge costs, it should.

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Actually, I believe the plan is for the west side of Lake Manitoba.

Bipole I and II run down the west side of Lake Winnipeg.

Hydro wanted to go down the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

Doer wants them to go down the west side of Lake Manitoba which is the very long way around and the one the experts think is very vulnerable to damage.

Edited by jdobbin
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Bipole I and II run down the west side of Lake Winnipeg.

Hydro wanted to go down the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

Doer wants them to go down the west side of Lake Manitoba which is the very long way around and the one the experts think is very vulnerable to damage.

Not to mention pricey, I wonder what Doer has in mind for compensating land owners by putting power lines over fields?? That wold certainly add up.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Taxpayers' Federation seeks to stop west-side power lines

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingn...s-66030107.html

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation and seasoned hydro, engineering and environmental experts have banded together to stop the provincial government’s plan to build a new transmission line down the west side of the province.

The coalition also includes former United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee President Jim Collinson, electrical engineering specialist John Roschuk and University of Manitoba Professor Emeritus Jim Graham.

It is interesting that a UNESCO person is coming out in favour of the east side line since it is UNESCO whom the NDP government said they are trying to make happy by running the line down the western portion of the province.

Manitoba Hydro is facing serious charges that it will not be able to provide power to Manitobans and yet the government is prepared to spend a billion to put the line down an area that might be inherently dangerous in continuity of supply.

It is a awful lot of money and it is difficult to find experts in hydro development anywhere thinking it is a good idea.

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I thought the reason they wanted to go down the west side was because there is already so much infrastructure available there, and the east side is basically wilderness. Wilderness that is difficult to develop, because of all the bogs, marshes, lakes, rivers, etc, so there are very few roads and virtually no settlements other than a handful of First Nations communities along the shore of the lake. Its interesting to find out that UNESCO is supporting the east side option now, though - I thought they were firmly against any development.

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Its interesting to find out that UNESCO is supporting the east side option now, though - I thought they were firmly against any development.

It is a former UNESCO President that says the hydro lines are less intrusive than the road the NDP government plans to build.

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I don't understand. Won't they need to construct roads in order to construct a hydro line? Either way, there will be damage to the ecosystem, which at this point is almost untouched.

The NDP government's main reason for not putting the hydro line in was that it would damage the environment but they are planning a road through the area which many analysts say is more disruptive. If it sounds confusing, it is. And it is expensive as well.

The government has to be challenged on such a plan. The costs, the efficacy and the environmental pros and cons all have to debated vigourously.

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