Construction continues on SaskPower’s $700-million Great Plains Power Station, but to power the plant, the Crown corporation needs to build a transmission line near city boundaries.
SaskPower recently submitted a subdivision application to city hall to install a power transmission line in the agri-food industrial park. According to The Planning and Development Act, an easement for a transmission line within five kilometres of city limits is considered a subdividing instrument and requires council approval.
Council received the subdivision application during its May 8 regular meeting and unanimously voted to approve SaskPower’s plan for a right of way/easement in the industrial park.
The proposed transmission line will mostly be located within the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw. On behalf of the RM, the Ministry of Government Relations’ community planning branch approved the proposal in September 2021.
According to a council report, the transmission easement is located on city lands that currently maintain the RM of Moose Jaw’s zoning of agricultural resource district. The City of Moose Jaw’s future land use map identifies the long-term land use of this area as heavy industrial.
City hall has no concerns with this proposed project since it won’t affect any municipal services, a council report said. Instead, it will come within 700 metres of the sewage lagoon, be adjacent to the power station, cut through undeveloped residential lots, and come within 500 metres of the Moose Jaw Creek.
The transmission line will also cross Corsterphine Avenue and affect a small portion of city property on the east side.
Furthermore, the municipality has referred the proposed transmission line easement to relevant utility companies for comment, but none have been received to date, the report said. SaskPower has paid the $450 application fee and will cover all costs associated with the subdivision.
The next regular council meeting is Tuesday, May 23.
