Alberta Regulator Approves Wild Rose 1 and Wild Rose 2 Wind Energy Interconnection Amendment

The Commission also approved an amendment to the Facilities Application that was requested by AltaLink Management Ltd. on June 1, 2015 to construct and/or alter and operate the associated transmission lines and facilities. Both approvals were provided on August 28, 2015.

The purpose of these amendments was to remove the northern portion of the interconnecting transmission line to (i) reduce overall capital costs for project interconnection, and (ii) remove additional transmission infrastructure no longer necessary due to recently completed system reinforcements.

Background:

The Commission has previously approved NaturEner’s Wild Rose 1 (“WR1”) and Wild Rose 2 (“WR2”) wind power plants, located approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Medicine Hat. The (“WR1”) wind power plant will be connected to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (“AIES” or “the electrical system”) via NaturEner’s Wild Rose 1 547S substation and a 36 km interconnection transmission line. The WR2 wind power plant will be connected to the AIES via NaturEner’s Eagle Butte 274S substation and a 50m interconnection transmission cable. Both projects will interconnect directly to the AIES via a new Elkwater Switchstation.

Facilities that were required in 2013 to facilitate connecting the WR1 and WR2 wind power plants to the AIES are no longer required because the 240-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines 1034L/1035L and 964L/983L have since been energized.Specifically, construction of the 240-kV transmission line 1009L, rebuild of a portion of transmission line 668L, and modification of the Cypress 562S substation have been removed from the interconnection Project.

When completed, WR1 and WR2 will be among the biggest wind farms in Canada with an aggregate installed generation capacity of 399 MW. “NaturEner worked closely with the AESO and AltaLink to amend the Project and is pleased that the AUC has provided its approval of the modifications. NaturEner has invested significant resources over many years to develop the Wild Rose Projects. We are continuing to actively advance financing and contractual strategies to support the commercialization and construction phases of WR1 and WR2. NaturEner appreciates the ongoing support of area landowners and regional organizations,” said Greg Copeland, NaturEner’s Vice President of Wind Energy Development.