Wind Power News: Alberta
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Proposed windfarm gets thumbs down from some Alberta landowners
A hearing is underway to determine whether the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) will approve a major wind farm in Vulcan County; however some residents are opposing the project. If approved, the Buffalo Plains Wind Farm would build 83 wind turbines on 17,500 acres of privately-owned farmland near Lomond, Alta., about 175 kilometres southeast of Calgary. It would be the third major green energy development in the area, and it’s hoped it will bring more tax revenue and jobs to area. . . . Complete story »
Vulcan County’s planning commission approves development permits for Buffalo Hills wind farm project
Shane Cockwill, who chairs the MPC, said the planning commission members empathize with the local residents’ legitimate concerns about the project and did their best to address their concerns “to the degree we had an influence,” he said. But the MPC’s jurisdiction was limited in its jurisdiction, to matters such as roads and setbacks, said Cockwill. “We were bound legally to only decide a few things,” he said. Wind farm projects mostly come under the jurisdiction of the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), Cockwill pointed out. Cockwill said he hopes the AUC hears the concerns of residents and that those concerns carry weight when the decision on the project is made. Complete story »
Nearby renewable energy projects get regulatory OK
A host of renewable power projects planned in the southeast have cleared regulatory hurdles as August comes to a close. The Hilda Wind Project and a separate expansion of the Brooks Solar facility both earned project approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission, while objections have been dropped against the Dunmore Solar field and Suncor Energy announced new solar facility near Bow Island. Nearest Medicine Hat, the AUC has cancelled a public hearing into a proposed plan to build a 216-megawatt . . . Complete story »
Major wind project touted in Big Lakes
A major wind project in Big Lakes County could produce as much as $100 million in tax revenue in the next 25 years. Bryan Clake, president of Joss Wind Power Inc., attended the county meeting July 28 by Zoom along with several partners. He sought council’s support in its efforts to make the Northern Lights Wind Power project a reality. “We’re hoping for a political letter of support,” he told council. “It’s not a technical issue, it’s a regulatory issue.” . . . Complete story »
Renewable Energy Systems hopes to build wind play northwest of Hilda
Renewable Energy Systems is hoping to break ground in 2022 on a wind project northwest of Hilda after three years of planning. The proposed Hilda Wind Power Project would be 100 megawatts produced by 20 wind turbines of generation on 7,000 acres of land. The project will connect into a 130-kilovolt AltaLink transmission line running to the east and west of the area. “So, our connection point is right on the site and is one of the reasons we chose . . . Complete story »
Yet another southeast Alberta wind farm seeks regulator approval
Another wind farm in southeast Alberta is being put before Alberta utility regulators. The Hilda Wind Power Project would consist of 20 turbine towers on either side of Highway 41 northwest of the hamlet in Cypress County. The developer, Renewable Energy Systems Canada, submitted its application to the Alberta Utilities Commission on Wednesday. The array would produce up to 100 megawatts of electricity in peak conditions that would be put onto the Alberta power grid via a new substation and . . . Complete story »
MD wound up over potential wind project
The image of white towers set to a mountainous backdrop has become so iconic that it’s hard to imagine a time when the Pincher Creek region didn’t have wind turbines spinning in the breeze. While renewable electrical production has its merits, the closer you get to a wind farm the less you can see the rolling foothills and mountain range southwestern Alberta is famous for, making the iconic white towers a bit of an eyesore. MD of Pincher Creek residents . . . Complete story »
22-turbine wind farm near Seven Persons awaits regulatory OK
A plan to erect 22 wind turbines in a renewable energy facility near Seven Persons is now before utility regulators for approval. The Alberta Utilities Commission is considering a final application to build “Winnifred Wind” and will accept written submissions from anyone affected until July 9. The wind farm would be built on leased sites on privately owned land in the County of Forty Mile and Cypress County by Enerfin Energy Company of Canada. The array and underground collector network . . . Complete story »
Public feedback deadline approaches for Jenner wind farm expansion
A proposal to more than double the size of a wind farm to be built near Jenner is approaching a deadline for public feedback in the approval process. Jenner Wind was initially planned to be constructed in three phases, with an initial 22 turbine towers included in a successful bid to supply power to the provincial grid in late 2018. That phase would produce 122 megawatts of power in peak conditions at the location northeast of the hamlet of Jenner . . . Complete story »
Southern Albertans voice opposition to proposed wind power project
On May 25, residents of the Municipal District of Pincher Creek submitted a letter of opposition to a proposed wind power facility at a council meeting, which they said could have a variety of negative impacts. It garnered around 400 signatures. “Only a few people didn’t sign the letter of objection because they wanted more information,” said Pat MacInnis, who has lived in the M.D. since 2006. The Castle Meridian Wind Power Project by Clem Geo-Energy Corp. would be located . . . Complete story »
