Plans to expand and upgrade the electricity system in the Stettler and east-central region were presented during an information session Dec. 2 at Stettler Recreation Center .
Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) has applied to the AUC, stating a need to develop and reinforce the electric transmission system in east-central Alberta under application No. 1605349.
“This would serve forecast increases in load and in wind-powered generation in the region expected by 2017,” states the application from AESO.
Anyone with concerns or objections to the application should file a letter to the AUC by Dec. 18.
“This is just a needs application at this time and there are not specific routings proposed,” said Lorena Charest, communications specialist with AUC.
However the application and map indicate expansions could include a new double-circuit 240-kV transmission line, 9L49, between Halkirk 401S switching station and Cordel 755S substation (LSD SW-29-40-15W4) and possible transmission lines around and west of Stettler, south along Highway 56 in the Big Valley area, and around Castor south along Highway 36.
“If this needs application is approved, AESO would then assign a transmission facility operator which could be ATCO or AltaLink, which would then file a further application to propose exact sitings and locations,” said Charest.
She confirmed that this application has no connection with Bill 50 which regulates critical infrastructure.
Other parts of the application include reinforcement of the Hardisty area system and in the west Hanna area, and other work in the Hanna, Brooks and Ware locations.
“AUC typically issues its decisions within 90 days of the conclusion of the hearing,” said Parvez Khan of AUC.
For the hearing, the AUC will consider submissions only that relates to technical deficiencies or where the project may not be in the best public interest such as excessive costs, unacceptable environmental and land-use impacts.
AESO’s planning activities have been based on its forecast that the regional load will more than double from about 420 megawatts in 2008 to about 970 MW in 2017 and that up to 700 MW of wind-powered generation will be located in east-central Alberta by 2017.
For more information, visit the AUC website at www.auc.ab.ca.