SE2 issues simmering with MPs

By Trudy Beyak
Chilliwack Progress
Black Press
Oct 23 2005

A legal battle over a controversial international power line is surging ahead, triggering renewed public environmental concerns in the Fraser Valley.

Conservative MPs - including the Opposition party's environment critic Bob Mills - took a public stand last Saturday against Sumas Energy 2, an American power corporation which wants approval to build a power line on Canadian soil.

SE2 is a 660-megawatt natural-gas-fuelled power plant, which Washington state has approved to be built in Sumas less than 500 metres from the Canadian border.

The power plant, if built, would "become the largest new air polluter in the Fraser Valley," said Langley MP Mark Warawa, a former Abbotsford councillor.

Mills said this legal case will be carefully watched across Canada.

"This issue is precedent-setting for every border region across Canada," said Mills.

There has been unanimous opposition to SE2 from local citizens and local governments, the province of B.C. and the Conservative Party of Canada, Warawa said.

The power company intends to spew more than 2 1/2 tons of pollution daily into the confined Fraser Valley air shed, which has a history of episodes of poor air quality. The B.C. government has stated it would not approve such a power plant in the Fraser Valley on the north side of the border.

SE2, however, is appealing the National Energy Board of Canada's decision to deny the company owners the right to construct a 230,000-volt international power line through Abbotsford to wheel power from its power plant to U.S. markets.

The Federal Court of Appeal is set to hear SE2's appeal case in Vancouver from Nov. 7 to 9.

Whatcom County, meanwhile, will not permit the company's 230,000-volt power line to be built in its jurisdiction because of public concerns on the south side of the border about decreased property values and health concerns.

Sharon Roy, a director with Whatcom County, said the county continues to be opposed to SE2.

"We are very much opposed to the building of that power plant - and we certainly don't think it is fair that Canadians would have to breathe most of the pollutants to be emitted from that power plant," Roy said.

Whatcom County is watching the legal proceedings in Canada with interest. If SE2 fails in its bid to build a power line in Canada, the company may eye a legal challenge in Whatcom County, predicts Roy.

Lawyers for the Province of B.C., City of Abbotsford, FVRD, and Sierra Legal Defence Fund, including Tom Berger, have submitted legal arguments against SE2.

Mills said environment ministry officials must represent Canadian interests abroad.

"An International Joint Commission report recommended the federal government become more involved with cross-border air-pollution initiatives," Mills said.

Depending on which way the court rules, this matter could still end up on the desk of the Canadian federal government for approval, said Abbotsford Coun. Patricia Ross.

"The U.S. will get the power generation, but it will be mostly Canadians that will suffer the negative effects."

Alex Drozdow, president of the federal Liberal Abbotsford riding, said the organization is opposed to SE2 and feels confident the court will make the right decision and uphold the NEB denial decision.