Strathcona County joins power line debate

Strathcona County is jumping into the debate over a proposed high voltage transmission line east of Edmonton.

EPCOR Utilities and AltaLink, the companies behind the Heartland Transmission project, want the line to run above ground west of Sherwood Park.

But the county is worried about the impact of the line on the environment and the health of county residents.

The county has hired experts to examine whether burying the line would be safer.

It is also directing residents to sign a petition on the project.

Strathcona Conservative MLA Dave Quest says he will deliver the names to the legislature.

"My preference obviously with my constituents would be to see the underground but there's so many things with respect to cost and a few technical things ... that are still unknown that it's too early to support and option 100 per cent," Quest said.

The Alberta Utilities Commission is holding hearings on the Heartland Transmission route in April.