Renewable energy waiting game

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Potentia Renewables Inc. and Greengate Power Corporation are hoping for warm winds to move the Wheatland Wind Project into construction by early 2018.
The Wheatland Wind Project began development in 2007 and includes approximately 35,000 acres of land located thirty 30 kilometres southeast of the Town of Drumheller.
A company spokesman said they are waiting on provincial announcements of money promised for alternative energy development projects.
“The new government has developed some ambitious plans of shifting coal-fired plants to renewable energy, which has renewed interest in wind and solar energy in the province. So we are getting our project ready for whatever the province rolls out. We are confident we have a good project, but we are just waiting for the details to move forward,” said spokesman Don Balaban, CAO of Greengate Power Corp.
Residents in Wheatland County got a chance to see the plans for the development at an open house held at the Hussar Community Hall on Oct. 24.
The project has gained its second wind with incentives through alternative energy generation. The delayed time period has given the company time to perform extensive studies surrounding wind monitoring, wildlife and habitat, vegetation, wetlands, breeding birds, raptor and burrowing owl surveys, bat studies and heritage resources in the proposed area. They are fine tuning the aspects of grid connection and completing engineering studies.
If construction begins, there will be up to 47 turbines over 35,000 acres of privately owned cultivated and grazing land. The turbines will connect into the Badlands substation and then upload to the power grid.
The company expects 200 jobs will be involved in construction, 20 regular jobs in turbine maintenance and millions of dollars to municipal tax coffers over the 25-year lifespan of the project. It is anticipated to produce enough megawatts to power about 50,000 homes.
“Ultimately it is a relatively low-cost, stable source of power. So in the long term, the more wind energy brought onto the Alberta grid will mean more stable prices for Albertans for at least a generation. In our view wind energy is the most cost competitive form of renewables,” said Balaban.
Some residents viewing the information and talking to representatives about their questions were reserving judgment until the project comes online. Debate over coffee and refreshments centered on whether the cost of developing renewable energy was really worth the elimination of coal-fired and oil-and-gas-powered alternatives. Others whose properties border the proposed turbines were not enthusiastic about the visual impact of the towers and flicker effects (shadowing caused by turbines) and noise that would be generated by the turbines.
Company spokesmen said they are gathering stakeholder input and trying to mediate concerns before the project moves forward. They said they are trying to find solutions to mitigate concerns like using extended setbacks around wetland areas to lessen impacts on bird populations and nesting sites.
At the end of the 25 year project, re-evaluations will be done whether to extend the project or remove the structures and rehabilitate the site back to its original state. Some residents wanted to make sure measures were in place to enforce restoration efforts, as they did not want to see them left to decompose like some abandoned oil well projects have been.
The company said if money is approved, they will be presenting again to Wheatland County council. Those unable to attend the open houses can get more information or have questions on the project answered by calling Dan Tocher at Wheatland Wind Project, 1-888-270-5743 or email info@wheatlandwind.com.