When ATCO Electric’s Transmission Division undertakes a project, it does not leave the public in the dark. Instead, the company takes the necessary steps to make sure that landowners understand what is going on.

This has been the case throughout the implementation of the Eastern Alberta Transmission Line (EATL) project. Currently, ATCO Electric has 18 landowner construction liaisons (LCLs) dedicated to providing regular updates to more than 500 landowners affected by the project. “The LCLs inform landowners of the work taking place on the project, answer their questions and address their concerns,” President Sett Policicchio explains.

Based in Edmonton, Alberta, ATCO Electric builds, owns, operates and maintains a network of transmission and distribution power lines in northern and east-central Alberta. The company serves nearly 216,000 customers in 245 communities.

ATCO Electric’s EATL project will reinforce and enhance the north-south transmission corridor; the backbone of the province’s electricity grid. The $1.8 billion project includes 485 kilometres of 500 kilovolt (KV) direct current (DC) line, two converter stations and 1,387 steel lattice towers. Construction on the project started in December 2012. 

According to Policicchio, the upgrades were long overdue. “Probably the last time there were any major transmission upgrades to the grid in Alberta was over 25 years ago. In the years since, the economy has really grown, oil and gas have taken off, and it was just a matter of time before the grid needed to be reinforced to provide industry with an opportunity to grow and develop in this province.”

As projects like the EATL increase the reliability of the grid for the province’s industries and residents, they also provide economic growth opportunities. “We have a market here – a power pool – that independent generators can bid into,” Policicchio explains. “The stronger the transmission grid, the more opportunity there is for these independent generators to come into the province,” he comments, noting the small gas plants and wind farms coming online in Alberta, and the opportunities for co-generation development. 

While ATCO Electric is building one DC line on the east side of Alberta, another transmission facility owner is building a DC line on the west side. “When finished,” Policicchio says, “both projects will reinforce the north-south transmission corridor.” 

Building Big: How it’s Done

The devil is in the details and the EATL is no exception. Six thousand and one hundred and forty-five permits, licenses and agreements later, the project is a reality. “The permit application part of the project was huge,” says Quyen Nguyen, ATCO Electric Transmission Division’s vice president of HVDC projects. 

“The applications, research and documentation required to obtain this quantity of permits, licenses and agreements has been ongoing for the past few years,” Nguyen adds, waving at a wall of binders in his office. 

Everything about the EATL is on a big scale, including its 1,387 steel lattice towers. Their thicker steel helps maintain their integrity even in the face of adverse weather and environmental conditions, Nguyen explains, adding that the line is being constructed through several areas with heavier ice and wind loads during the peak winter months.

The emphasis on winter construction stems largely from ATCO Electric’s mandate to reduce environmental impacts. ATCO Electric’s construction activities and schedules are planned in accordance with government regulations and the company’s own Environmental Protection Plan (EPP). The ATCO Electric EPP outlines best practices concerning clubroot, environmentally sensitive areas and protection of species at risk. 

 Bechtel provided project and construction management services, including procurement, project planning, scheduling and reporting, and contracts formation and administration. “In addition, we are the engineer of record responsible for the design of the transmission line, including subsurface geotechnical investigation and foundation design, and are the prime contractor responsible for establishing and maintaining the safety program on the line,” says Tom Lenaghan, manager of business development for Bechtel’s power global business unit.

“As of the end of March 2014, we had assembled over 85 percent of the towers and installed over 80 percent of the tower foundations,” Lenaghan adds. “With over 600 towers erected, conductor stringing activity is continuing and gaining momentum.”

Public Consultation

Before construction on the EATL could begin, ATCO Electric engaged in an extensive public consultation process. From June 2010 to March 2011, the company held 14 open houses and more than 6,400 personal consultations with landowners and other parties. 

“We conducted consultations in a large area east of Edmonton to southeast of Calgary,” Policicchio recalls, adding that the process was effective. Although it did experience some resistance, the company has obtained signed agreements from 96 percent of the landowners on the project’s approved route.

ATCO Electric continues to consult with the few remaining unsigned landowners. “We prefer to work with the landowner to come up with a fair resolution,” Policicchio explains. “Expropriation – where the government mandates land acquisition – is only used as a last resort.”

ATCO Electric typically builds transmission lines through farmland, says Policicchio. “In pasture areas, landowners aren’t usually as concerned about towers being on their land,” he states. “But if it’s productive farm land, there can be more opposition, which is understandable.”

Route and facility locations are selected after comprehensive research and consideration.  “We work to route the line through areas where we can minimize the impact on people, the environment and the land,” explains Policicchio, identifying homes, schools, hospitals, environmentally sensitive areas and historical sites as areas the company tries to avoid.

Policicchio adds that he is pleased with the positive relationships ATCO Electric has developed with EATL landowners. “I had anticipated somewhat more resistance to the project,” he admits. “I think the project has progressed as well as it has because of the commitment and capabilities of our planners and land agents. They are skilled and experienced in working with landowners to resolve concerns,” Policicchio says. 

Even after agreements are signed, ATCO Electric continues to keep landowners informed. “Landowners may see us quite regularly during construction, as we work with them through the entire process from consultation to construction and after, during maintenance of the line,” Policicchio says. 

ATCO Electric also makes sure the communities where it is developing projects are aware of the work in the area. “When we did our first round of public consultation on the EATL project, we published advisories in Alberta’s major and community newspapers,” he recalls.

Additionally, 200,000 direct mail pieces have been sent over the course of the project. “In the early stages, we had radio and television ads,” Policicchio adds.

Staying Busy

The EATL project is expected to be complete at the end of this year but ATCO Electric won’t be slowing down any time soon, Policicchio predicts. “The need for transmission development is going to continue. I think the North American transmission industry has been rather slow in putting up transmission. And I think as industry and the economy is thriving and growing in certain areas, the electric system is going to have to be able to handle that.”

While there are ample business opportunities right here at home in Alberta – Policicchio notes the competitive transmission process that has developed in Alberta, and the large, northern Alberta transmission project (estimated by the Alberta Electric System Operator to be worth about $1.6 billion) that ATCO Electric, in partnership with other organizations, is pursuing – opportunities abound outside the province, too.

“When you look at what’s going on in the Dakotas, in Texas…I think there’s going to be a huge need for major transmission. Consider the generation opportunities in the U.S. and Canada as we move to more green energy.” 

For now though, along with the EATL project, ATCO Electric has several other large projects on the go in their service area, covering northern and east-central Alberta. “We continue to see a lot of transmission being built in this province over the next three-to-five years; for us, close to $750 million a year,” Policicchio says. 

ATCO Electric’s EATL project will reinforce and enhance the north-south transmission corridor; the backbone of the province’s electricity grid. The $1.8 billion project includes 485 kilometres of 500 kilovolt (KV) direct current (DC) line, two converter stations and 1,387 steel lattice towers.  Construction on the project started in December 2012. 

While opportunities abound in Alberta, ATCO Electric is not limiting itself or its work to its home province. “There are opportunities outside the province we’re exploring as well,” explains Policicchio, noting that ATCO Electric is looking at Canada and the United States. “Generally, across North America, the industry has fallen behind in transmission upgrades, resulting in the current continent-wide need for investments in transmission development.” 

The electric system has to be able to handle future economic growth, Policicchio says. The industry also has to look at “alternative generation opportunities as it moves towards green energy.”