But Joe Anglin, the chairman of a different landowners group that has waged war against power transmission lines, says such battles are still worthwhile.

The United Landowners of Alberta wants to go to court to challenge the province's ownership of coalbed methane deposits

The group's Glenn Norman, who farms east of Bowden, Alta, says landowners should own the resource so that they can earn the economic benefits of developing the resource, or choose to turn down such development on their land.

Norman says they hope to hold meetings across the province, perhaps as early as this fall, to gain support for their fight.

Jason Chance, a spokesman for Alberta Energy, says all Albertans own the province's resources, which he says are developed to fund important programs like health and education and create jobs.