Dollard-des-Ormeaux citizens protest Hydro-Québec project

Several dozen people gathered in front of Hydro-Québec's substation at the corner of Saint-Jean and de Salaberry boulevards on Sunday to protest a plan to install a 315 kilovolt powerlines in the area.

Citizens in Dollard-des-Ormeaux want the line to be built underground, saying that it will be an eye sore.

Lynette Gilbeau speaks for the citizens' group, Build it Underground DDO.

"We are not opposed to the further development of the electrical grid on the island of Montreal, or particularly bringing more power to the West Island," Gilbeau told CBC News. 

"We are opposed to it in an aerial installation."

The group is concerned about the construction of 52-metre pylons, twice the size of the ones currently on the site.

Gilbeau added the group is also worried about market value depreciation of people's homes, potential health risks of electromagnetic field emissions, as well as increased noise.

"This project not only affects the residents of DDO," she said. "We are all citizens in this province and we should be concerned about environmental impacts and the potential health risks associated with lines such as these."

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Underground line would cost significantly more

Hydro-Québec spokesperson Jean-Philippe Rousseau says there is a significant price difference between the two options.

"The overhead option is evaluated at $14 million and the underground option is evaluated almost $60 million, so there is a very important difference."

Hydro-Québec's plan recently got the green light from the province's environmental review agency, the BAPE.

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"The BAPE report is an important step in the process to carry out the project," said Rousseau. "The BAPE says that the higher costs of the underground option should not be assumed by Hydro-Québec customers."

DDO raises concerns about the plan

DDO borough councillor Morris Vesely says council has been unanimously against this project from day one. 

"We are fighting hard to get the project delayed," Vesely told CBC. "We are not going away and we are going to keep the pressure on."

"We're setting a precedent here," he said. "From this point on it goes to Kirkland, and after that Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue. We have to do everything we can."

Despite months of back-and-forth, Hydro-Québec maintains its willingness to work together with the town of DDO.

"Hydro-Québec wants to continue working with the town of DDO and its residents to carry out the best project for the community," said Rousseau.