Proposed wind farm south of the Hat to go to new hearing next month

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Ryan Dahlman

Southern Alberta Newspapers

A wind farm that was originally approved 16 years ago will go to a new hearing next month toward building the array south of Medicine Hat.

Wild Rose 2 Wind Power plant was first approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in 2007, but with little action until it was sold to Capstone Infrastructure in late 2021.

Last spring, the Toronto-based infrastructure investment firm announced plans to move it forward, but with so much time since the original approval, the AUC required the previous owner to update its engagement and reapply for a permit.

On March 31, the regulator released the schedule for a hearing on the project that includes deadline for intervenors this month toward a virtual hearing beginning on July 10.

Plans call for 38 turbines to be spread over 28 sections of land about 30 kilometres south of Medicine Hat, on either side of the Eagle Butte Road, south of Township Road 104.

Eight Cypress County residents have registered to take part in the hearing process, and through filings expressed concerns about unsightliness, noise, land values and eventual decommissioning plans.

Last spring Capstone announced a supply agreement with Siemens-Gamesea for higher-capacity systems – reducing the number of turbines required to 38 from the 63 previously proposed. Capstone has long-term contracts to sell most of the power produced at the 192-megawatt facility to Pembina Pipelines and the City of Edmonton.

Capstone is also building the multi-phase Buffalo-Atlee Wind Farm, north of CFB Suffield.