Medicine Hat applies to build SW area substation on edge of the city

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on June 4, 2022.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The City of Medicine Hat has officially applied to build its new southwest area substation on the edge of the city, where county residents have previously raised their objections.

The facility would direct and handle additional power in the area where utility administrators see burgeoning growth in the future to handle potential greenhouse expansions and customer growth.

However, city administrators have said the process of siting the facility has included months of discussions and feedback from nearby residents.

A contact list for stakeholders includes hundreds of residential property owners in the city and county who may be affected by increased ambient industrial noise, according to the official submission to the Alberta Utilities Commission, filed on June 1.

The AUC considers all developments, and will likely hold public feedback periods and hearings if enough interest exists.

The preferred location is on a triangle lot inside city limits adjacent to Highway No. 3, but across an access road to a rural subdivision of homes.

An alternate location would be just north of South Boundary Road (which is the city’s southern corporate limit), but near the corner of Range Road 61A, which leads to the county hamlet of Desert Blume.

City officials told a meeting of the Utility and Infrastructure Committee this winter that the initial process has garnered a significant amount of attention.

They were proceeding with environmental, noise and other required impact studies.

The station, known as MHS11, would tie into existing power lines and could cost $20 million, according to estimates.