Several residents opposed to solar proposition in Forty Mile

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on February 10, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

A plan to build a huge solar panel array over 4,500 acres south of Seven Persons will move to a regulatory hearing this spring after 10 parties applied to become intervenors with the Alberta Utilities Commission.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners plans to build Aria Solar, a 450-megawatt capacity solar array about 35 kilometres southwest of Medicine Ha, and applied the project in December to the Alberta Utilities Commission.

That led to nine individuals registering to speak against the plan, and the AUC has announced a hearing date of May 23.

Several are represented by Edmonton law firm Ackroyd LLP and argue the proposal is too large and would be detrimental to the environment and aesthetics of the area, which is 2.5 kilometres northwest of the Red Rock Coulee natural area lookout.

County of Forty Mile landowner Linda Fisher claims in her statement the size of the development will impede wildlife and break up natural grass land in the area.

The County of Forty Mile also registered as a party to the proceeding, stating in application that its interests were in site levelling, vegetation management and project reclamation.

Alderson Solar

The AUC has also announced it is now accepting pubic feedback on a plan to build the Alderson Solar field until March 6.

The long-proposed 100-megawatt solar power facility and substation would be built near Alderson, west of Suffield, by German-owned developer HEP.

The array would cover 227 hectares, about 570 acres, on parts of two sections north of the Trans-Canada Highway at the junction of Range Road 115 and Township Road 164.

That site sits about 21 kilometres southeast of Tilley, just inside the Cypress County boundary.

The facility would be connected to the AltaLink transmission system, located about three kilometres away.

If approved the company expects a construction completion date of late 2024, according to filings.