In this Feb. 14, 2017, file photo, a rooftop is covered with solar panels at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. A solar park developer looking to build a 600-acre array near Grassy Lake has made its final application to utility regulators to move ahead with the project. (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan, File)
Medicine Hat News
A solar park developer looking to build a 600-acre array near Grassy Lake has made its final application to utility regulators to move ahead with the project.
The Alberta Utility Commission announced Tuesday the proposal by Sunset Solar, Ltd. is now being considered and could release a decision if no further written submissions are accepted by a Feb. 5 deadline.
The project area is located southwest of the hamlet, west of Highway 877 and south of Highway 3, with a small portion adjacent to the major highway.
The physical size of the farm would be roughly four times the size of the Solar 1 facility near Brooks that is visible from the Trans-Canada Highway.
With a production capacity of 60 megawatts, it would be able to supply 15,000 average homes in peak conditions, and be connected to an adjacent transmission line. The stated in-service date would be in later 2020, and considering an 18-month construction period, the build would need to proceed this spring
It is common for developers move to get full approval of projects then apply for further extensions as they examine business cases, market conditions or seek long-term supply contracts.
The company did not respond to interview requests Thursday but recently told the Municipal District of Taber they expect up to 190 workers on site during construction of the pile-mounted arrays. It would likely be two full-time technicians on site for operations, according to the Taber Times.
