The layout of the proposed RES Oyen Wind project, comprising 83 turbines (noted as blue dots), located north of the town of Oyen at the junction of Highways 9 and 41.--Supplied Image
@MedicineHatNews
A plan to erect more than 80 wind towers just north of the town of Oyen in two phases will move to a regulatory hearing this spring.
The Alberta Utilities Commission states the entire project, located about 8 kilometres north of Oyen adjacent to Highways 9 and 41, would comprise 147 quarter-sections.
Developer, RES, states only a few acres per tower would be taken out of agricultural production.
In late 2024, 10 landowners in the vicinity registered to participate and oppose the application, listing land value, affect on livestock, cumulative landscape changes and access to aerodromes as concerns.
The “Oyen Landowners Group” is represented by the Akroyd Law. It has until April 8 to submit written materials to the AUC, which will commence a hearing to decide the issue on June 9.
The two-phase project would see 45 turbines installed initially, then an additional 38, bringing the entire facility’s maximum generating capacity to 466 megawatts.
In its application the company expects that if approval is issued, construction on the first phase could commence in May 2026 and be in service by late 2028, but asks for a final completion date in the fall of 2029.
Most recently in the region, RES took over final development and construction of the Forty Mile Wind facility, near Bow Island, and has sold the project to Acciona.
