By Lisa Joy Castor Advance
Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) approved Capital Power’s application to construct and operate Halkirk 2 Wind Power Project and a substation.
Halkirk 2 will see 74 wind turbine generators, a collector system and a substation five miles north of Halkirk. It’s expected to be in operation by 2019 and will generate 148 megawatts, meeting the needs of about 500,000 Alberta homes every year.
“The Commission is satisfied that approval of the project is consistent with the purposes of both the Hydro and Electric Energy Act and the Electric Utilities Act in that it will result in the safe, economic, orderly and efficient development of a new generation facility that will contribute to an efficient electricity market based on fair and open competition,” read AUC’s April 11 decision.
An April 23 Sub Division and Appeal Board (SDAB) hearing in Paintearth County council chambers was adjourned until June 4.
The SDAB hearing was a result of a group of about 37 landowners, the Battle River Group (BRG), presenting a petition with 312 signatures to Paintearth County on Dec. 5. They asked the county to make the wind turbine setbacks 1.5 km from homes instead of the proposed 500 metres. Paintearth County, during a meeting in January, rejected the BRG’s petition on grounds that it violated the Municipal Government Act that prohibits petitions for new bylaws or against existing bylaws.
There are already 83 turbines at the Halkirk Wind Farm. Capital Power aims to meet increased power needs that will arise from the Alberta Climate Leadership Plan that plans to end coal-fired electricity generation facilities by 2030.