Several projects in southern Alberta were approved before renewables pause

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Ryan Dahlman

By Collin Gallant
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Nine major projects near Medicine Hat are already approved in the greater Medicine Hat region and could move to construction this year or next.

They represent 2 gigawatts of potential power production, cumulatively, with construction budgets totalling an estimated $3 billion combined.

Another four formal applications for solar projects are now paused until at least the winter.

The size of wind facilities is often expressed in dozens of sections, but typically only removes several acres per turbine site from crop production or grazing.

Already approved

– Buffalo Trail Wind, Engie, 400-MW, 65 turbines, Dunmore to Highway 41;

– Bull Trail Wind, EDF Renewables, 270-MW, 51 turbines, south of Irvine;

– Dunmore Solar, Greencells, 220-MW, 623 acres, junction Highways 41 and 41A;

– Estuary Solar, IndyGen, 200-MW, 640 acres, north of Empress;

– Forty Mile Wind, RES, 400-MW, 70 turbines (both phases), Bow Island;

– Jurassic Solar, Greengate/Northland Power, 220-MW, 1,200 acres, near Dinosaur Park;

– Schuler (wind) Energy Centre, Sequoia Energy, 104-MW, north Cypress County;

– Winnifred Wind, Enerfin Canada, 122-MW, 22 turbines, near Rattlesnake Lake;

– Wild Rose 2 Wind, Pteragen, 192-MW, estimated 30 turbines, Black and White Trail.

Formal applications on hold

– Aria Power, Aria Wind Co., 450 MW, 4,500 acres, Seven Persons;

– Aura Power Peace Butte Solar, 230MW, 960 acres, Seven Persons;

– Saamis Solar, DP Energy, 325-MW, 1,600 acres, northern Medicine Hat;

– Proteus Hays, Proteus Power, 220-MW, 1,300 acres, near Hays, Alta.