Hydro Quebec it doesn't necessarily have to cut all trees growing close to power lines in Montreal West, but some will have to go.
That's what officials told Montreal West residents Monday evening at a town hall meeting that was demanded by Mayor Beny Masella after he learned the public utility was planning to cut down dozens of trees growing along a power line.
"Trees that have been in place 30, 40, 50 years, why are they no longer legal according to their regulations?" asked Masalla.
Wildlife also like to use the corridor.
"There is a real variety of almost a hundred species of birds that are there," said Virginia Elliott of Bird Protection Quebec.
Hydro Quebec says the trees pose a safety hazard if they get within 2.5 m of a transmission tower or electrical line.
"There's zero tolerance, we cannot have any incidents or tripping that is caused by vegetation," said Marie-Claire Durand.
Hydro Quebec began examining power corridors in more detail after a series of outages in 2008 and 2009, and began enforcing its standards more rigourously in 2010.
Electrical arcing and fires can occur when there's not enough space between the tree tops and the high voltage wires above, but Hydro Quebec says it welcomes greenery compatible with safety.
It has approved species of trees that can be planted near power lines, and says it does not have to cut down trees all at once.
"For example we can spread out the work over a few years according to the risk that the trees represent," said Jean-Philippe Rousseau.
A forestry engineer explained that some trees will be required to be cut down, because trimming them 2.5 metres will kill them, but that they will keep the trees in place that do not pose a risk of dying. They will also ensure appropriate species – shorter lilac trees instead of tall maple trees, for example, will be planted in their place.
The trees in question have been around for decades.
"They're amazing how beautiful they are. My boys planted them," said Francesca Lalla.
