The Board also adopted the membership's advice that the Glenn Highway Gravel Pits North and the Pittman Gravel Pits site areas are designated as the Association's second and third choices, respectively.
There were 4,283 counted ballots. With five choices available, 56 percent of the ballots selected the Glenn Highway Gravel Pits South location as the most preferred site. Fifth-three percent selected the neighboring site, Glenn Highway Gravel Pits North as the second most preferred site. The third most preferred site was the Pittman Gravel Pits with 48 percent of the vote.
When asked why the Board adopted the top three preferred sites, Board President Lee Jordan said, "It's important for the Board to plan ahead. It's possible that even the site preferred by most members and the MEA Board may be found impossible to develop because of unforeseen geotechnical, environmental, or other issues. We will investigate the most preferred site first. If it's ruled out, we'll likely move on to the next most preferred site," Jordan explained.
"Now that the Board has accepted the membership's recommendations on the location of the new generation facilities, MEA will begin a thorough site assessment," said Lorali Carter, MEA's Manager of Government and Corporate Communications. Included in the site assessment will be land sale negotiations and investigation of permit requirements and regulatory compliance, she said.
Two Directors, Lois Lester and Peter Burchell, voted against the motion to accept the outcome of the member vote as the Board's preferred locations.
MEA will continue to communicate with its membership throughout the process.