Heather Wright/The Independent

Dawn-Euphemia’s mayor says Hydro One is worried “more about the wildlife and the environment than we are about people inside these houses.”

Broad made the comment Tuesday after learning Hydro One has chosen its route for the Longwoods to Lakeshore project. The utility chose the only route which cuts through Lambton’s most southerly municipality and runs right overtop of at least three homes and barns, and passes within meters of at least four more. That’s not to mention all the farm fields which could be dotted with hydro towers if the project moves forward.

And, Broad says, it likely will. 

The province is pushing to increase its hydro supply. Hydro One already had one transmission line project under construction when it began studying the Longwoods to Lakeshore route to meet the growing demand for power. The Independent Energy Supply Operator estimates demand for power in the southwest will quadrupling by 2035.

Hydro One studied three routes, but chose the line going through Dawn-Euphemia saying it was the shortest, the least expensive to construct and “involves the least potential disruption to species at risk and their habitats as well as the least vegetation removal, including trees.” The company also say it has the lowest impact to homes.

But that’s not how Broad sees it. “When you run a hydro wire over top somebody’s house, you’re trying to run them out of a community, but they don’t care.”

“We’re worried more about the wildlife and the environment than we are as people inside these houses,” Broad said.

The residents whose homes are underneath the hydro wires were told early on in the process at public meetings that it is likely their homes will be bought or moved for the power line.

Broad says farmers are also concerned about the towers in their fields reducing their acreage. Hydro One does pay for access, however some community members want a yearly stipend instead of a one-time payment.

And Broad is concerned about what the project means for his municipal coffers.

 “A small municipality like mine needs every person and every tax dollar we can get to survive.

“Here we got the Ontario Hydro running this system through the middle of us, and all we can hope for is that they fairly compensate everybody that’s been affected. 

“We are not going to subsidize this hydro tower line with a lack of our loss of assessment, because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever,” says Broad.

“We’ll be asking for that amount of assessment dollars to be returned to the municipality.”

Hydro One was talking to affected residents and local politicians Tuesday before making a public announcement Wednesday.

There are public meetings planned for this month, including one in Thamesville. 

“It appears that the comment that I heard is that they will not be altering it much,” added Broad.