May 29, 2014
Alberta

Hand Hills Wind Project deadline extended

Written by Michele Scott | The Drumheller Mail | 28 May 2014 | www.drumhellermail.com

BluEarth Renewables Inc.’s request to move the completion date of the Hand Hills Wind Project near Delia to 2018 was approved by Alberta Utilities Commission on May 13, 2014.

In its February 2014 BluEarth Newsletter, the company states:
“One of the main reasons for the delay is the transmission infrastructure, which we require to put the power on the grid, is not completed.”
“ATCO Electric has made an application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for the interconnection of the Hand Hills Wind Project”.
“BluEarth also requires Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to sell the power generated by the facility before we can proceed with construction.”
Information on BluEarth’s website said ATCO’s application is currently on hold, stating:
“…their application is currently being held in abeyance by the AUC pending the outcome of a separate proceeding dealing with overall transmission constraints and rights within the Province of Alberta.”
“BluEarth asked for an extension to our construction time frame for the Hand Hills project because of the uncertainty about the duration of the abeyance.”
The project would stretch over 7,500 acres of land near Delia, containing 34 wind turbines.
BluEarth estimates each turbine would produce 25 megawatts of electricity, which would be enough to meet the energy needs to power 1,000 homes in Alberta.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/29/hand-hills-wind-project-deadline-extended/