The Battle River Group (BRG) was granted an adjournment for the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) hearing on Mon. April 23.
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) decision on Capital Power’s Halkirk 2 Wind project was released on April 11, not leaving enough time for the BRG to provide submissions to the SDAB hearing, let alone hire a lawyer.
According to one member of BRG, it took them until Friday, April 20 to retain a lawyer who was not in conflict of interest.
The SDAB members granted adjournment until June 11 for a preliminary hearing with BRG having until May 22 to put in a submission followed by ] Capital Power and the County having until May 28 to respond to any new information that may have arisen from the BRG submission.
The ‘merit hearing’ was scheduled for July 5.
The BRG requested again a copy of Capital Power’s application and the permits by the County.
“We need the information that you guys have,” said Brenda Anderson, a member of the BRG.
Previously when the request was made, BRG was told it was 800 pages, and CAO Tarolyn Aaserud would have to go through and black out information the public was not privy to, prior to providing a copy.
Rhonda Fuller, a BRG member, noted the group did not move forward with the request because time between getting and digesting the information prior to when they had to get their submission into the hearing did not allow for enough time.
The BRG is challenging the county’s approval of Capital Power’s proposed Halkirk 2 Wind Project that includes 74 wind turbines generators, a collector system and a substation.
There are currently 83 turbines at the Halkirk Wind Farm that adds about $2.3 million annually in taxes to Paintearth County’s coffers.
A previous adjournment of the SDAB hearing in December at the request by Capital Power was granted until such time as the AUC made their decision following their regulatory review process.
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