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.
Wind power losing love in southern Alberta
The persistent westerly winds in Alberta’s southwest are a blessing and a curse, depending on time of year and desired activity. Among those considering it a blessing are renewable energy development companies that have erected hundreds of wind turbines in the region, many of them in the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, where Alberta’s wind energy business began. But as turbine numbers have increased, rural residents once largely supportive of harnessing wind energy are expressing concerns about the size, location . . . Complete story »
Wind power a concern for Alberta grasslands
Wind power has become an important part of Alberta’s energy network. But wind turbines and transmission lines should not be allowed to destroy what little is remaining of southern Alberta’s undisturbed grasslands. That’s the message from a retired electrical power executive, now living in the foothills near Pincher Creek. Municipal councils and provincial regulators should be acting to preserve the threatened grasslands areas, said Bobbi Lambright. But so far they’ve seemed more interested in the wind projects’ economic benefits. “I . . . Complete story »
Company gives details on wind energy project in Cypress County
MEDICINE HAT, AB – The company behind the latest wind project announced for southeastern Alberta shared some additional details about the project. The Cypress Wind Project, which would be built by EDF Renewables, was announced as one of five successful projects in Alberta’s latest Renewable Electricity Program. “We’re very excited and very pleased to have been selected as part of the program,” said Cory Basil, vice president of development with EDF Renewables. “We’re looking forward to investing into the province, investing . . . Complete story »
Pincher Creek MPC rejects wind project
In a case which could have implications for the provincial government’s ambitious targets for renewable energy generation, the Municipal Planning Commission for the MD of Pincher Creek, which has one of the largest densities of wind farms in southern Alberta, rejected the proposed Windy Point Wind Project earlier this month after about 80 local landowners said enough was enough. “There’s two issues,” said Bill Trafford, president of the Livingstone Landowners Group which led the charge against Windy Point. “When you . . . Complete story »
Cleanup of wind and solar sites won’t land at Alberta farmers’ feet
With a growing number of wind and solar developments studding Alberta’s landscape, the province has enshrined new rules that ensure operators – not landowners – are ultimately responsible for cleaning them up. The province has had renewable energy development for over two decades, but landowner advocates have more recently grumbled about insufficient rules. For one, farmers and landowners wanted to make sure their property is returned to its prior state when renewable facilities expired. The oil and gas industry has had such . . . Complete story »
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 »
