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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Save the river valley: Buy energy from a wind farm, say advocates to Epcor
Putting solar panels in Edmonton’s river valley instead of another local site will save Epcor roughly $19 million – but a wind farm would be cheaper still. Epcor promised to build a local renewable energy option in its last rate-setting deal with the city. It told council’s utility committee Thursday that putting the solar farm next to its water treatment facility in the North Saskatchewan River valley is $19 million cheaper than building on purchased land somewhere else in Edmonton. But . . . Complete story »
Axing carbon tax could mean dead calm: NDP
Alberta’s environment minister says a promise by conservatives to repeal the carbon levy would put billions of dollars in windfarm investments in southern Alberta at risk. Last week, Ontario’s new Conservative government announced an abrupt end to that province’s cap-and-trade carbon pricing system and cancelled wind-energy contracts they say have driven up prices. Last year, the Energy Alberta ministry awarded three major electricity supply contracts to wind farms proposed near Bow Island, Oyen and Pincher Creek in a system partly . . . Complete story »
Proposed wind farm in eastern Alberta has residents of neighbouring communities uneasy
The proposed Sharp Hills Wind Farm near the hamlets of New Brigden and Sedalia, north of Oyen, has many in the region questioning the potential impact the dozens of turbines with massive blades will have on their health and the environment. According to EDP renewals, the wind farm, which would be one of the largest of its kind in North America, would include 83 turbines capable of generating enough combined energy to power approximately 160,000 homes each year. Each of . . . Complete story »
Developer cancels weather tower permit
A permit to erect a meteorological tower on land in the St. Lina area has since been cancelled, with no word if the company behind the permit is still considering the area as a potential site of a wind energy project. Tanya Dubeau, who had filed an appeal to the permit, said she received a call June 18 from the County of St. Paul informing her the permit has since been cancelled and so it was no longer necessary to . . . Complete story »
Weather tower to gather data for possible wind energy project
The County of St. Paul has approved a permit to erect a meteorological tower on private land in the St. Lina area, one of the first steps in determining if a wind energy project is viable. Clym Atkin of LandSolutions confirmed to the Journal the Calgary-based company, acting as land agent, had applied for a permit on behalf of NextEra Energy Canada to erect a tower on SE-19–61-10 W4M to collect weather data pertaining to wind speed, temperature, humidity, rain . . . Complete story »
Final pitch starts today for windfarm near Oyen
Three days of hearings are set to begin today in Oyen, near where EDP Renewables plans to build an 83-turbine windfarm next year at an estimated cost of $500 million. The Alberta Utilities Commission will hear the company’s final proposal to locate, construct and operate phase one of the Sharphills Windfarm. The company says the economic impact will be a boost for the area, local government and landowners. A group of residents however, oppose the project on the grounds that . . . Complete story »
Lots of problems, few benefits from wind farms
We just wanted to add our voice and agreement with James Cook, Westerose, regarding wind farms in the Winfield area or, for that matter, any other area in Alberta. Wind farms are a mistake as has been shown worldwide; we do not want them anywhere in Alberta. Not only are they a subsidized liability, they are far from being “green”—from the materials used to construct them, the concrete needed to hold them in place, to the environmental damage they do . . . Complete story »
AUC rejects Battle River Group’s late request; Landowners fight proposed wind turbine farm near Halkirk
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) denied the Battle River Group’s (BRG) request to file more information in their fight against Capital Power’s proposed Halkirk 2 Wind Turbine project. The group wanted to file two late submissions in response to Capital Power’s amended filing in January to its proposed routing for the collector system after some participating landowners withdrew their support of the project. The AUC accepted the information earlier in March but last week ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to . . . Complete story »
Alberta exploring ways to soothe landowner angst as wind and solar takes off
With a wave of renewable energy development arriving in Alberta, the province is examining ways to strengthen protections for landowners that allow wind and solar development on their property. The province has had renewable energy projects – such as wind turbines – since the 1990s, but landowner advocates have long complained that some of the rules are insufficient. Among their worries, landowners want to make sure their property is properly reclaimed when wind and solar facilities have expired – and that they . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines affect property values
The Alberta Climate Leadership Plan (ACL), which aims to end coal-fired electricity generation facilities by 2030, has companies like Capital Power scrambling to meet the province’s increased power needs. To meet this increased need, Capital Power applied with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for Halkirk 2 that would see 74 wind turbine generators, a collector system and a substation erected five miles north of Halkirk. Halkirk 2 would generate 148 megawatts and meet the needs of about 500,000 Alberta homes . . . Complete story »
