Kneehill County council heard an update on how power line construction is coming along for a major regional solar farm. The report was made at the Jan. 14 regular meeting of council.
Councillors heard a presentation from AltaLink representatives Colin Harvey and Stephanie Mitchell describing the corporations plans for power line construction related to the Lone Butte solar farm project. Harvey noted AltaLink is Alberta’s largest transmitter of electricity.
Harvey pointed out that the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) directs AltaLink to build transmission infrastructure related to projects; the company develops an application which is submitted to a different agency, the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), for approval.
Harvey stated that once AltaLink is directed to build infrastructure the company determines the geographic details.
Mitchell stated that AltaLink wanted to update Kneehill County on plans to build Lone Butte transmission lines; she stated that the company plans to build up to 17 kms of transmission lines between the Lone Butte substation, some of which will be located in Kneehill County, and ultimately connect them to existing transmission lines located in Mountain View County.
She illustrated her statements with a map for councillors, which also showed three proposed routes for the 17 kms of lines: north, central and south routes. It was noted the north route is proposed to have H-style structures while the central and south routes are proposed to have monopole structures.
Harvey stated that the transmission project is now in the detailed site stage, which includes meeting with stakeholders to discuss the proposed routes.
Stakeholders, according to Harvey’s presentation, include landowners, First Nations, industry, municipalities and provincial government departments.
AltaLink’s assessment of routes includes a number of factors stated Harvey, including agriculture, residential and environmental impacts, existing infrastructure plus specific area concerns such as an airport or shelterbelt.
It was noted AltaLink just recently began the consultation phase of the project which will run for the next year; Harvey noted the company plans to file its application with AUC in November and if approved construction is slated for completion in July, 2027. The application will include AltaLink’s preferred route plus an alternate.
Coun. Laura Lee Machell-Cunningham asked who pays for the transmission line construction. Harvey answered that the proponent, in other words the Lone Butte power plant owner, pays for construction but upon completion the transmission system becomes AltaLink’s property.
Machell-Cunningham asked if any provincial or federal taxpayer money is used to pay for the transmission line project to which Harvey responded, “Not that I’m aware of.”
Reeve Ken King stated he found it interesting that AESO directed AltaLink to build the system yet the company has to submit their application to a different agency, AUC.
Coun. Wade Christie asked if a route for the lines is selected that includes a right-of-way (ROW) on farmland can that farmland still be used for agriculture? Harvey stated yes it could, but AltaLink won’t allow any other structures on the ROW and the company must be informed if the ROW is being used for storage, which is essentially for safety concerns.
Councillors accepted the AltaLink presentation as information.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review