Concerns over Brooks Solar expansion leads to public hearing

By Medicine Hat News on August 23, 2019.

A plan to triple the size of the Brooks Solar farm will proceed to a public hearing after nine neighbouring landowners filed statements of concern about the project.

The Alberta Utility Commission called for public feedback in late June regarding Elemental Energy’s plan to expand its facility near the Trans-Canada Highway on to parts of two adjacent quarter-sections.

The facility currently produces 15 megawatts of power at peak times from panel arrays on an irregular plot that borders the Trans-Canada. The expansion would add another 26.5 megawatts of capacity from 90,000 panels placed on 88 hectares to the north and east.

On Wednesday, regulators ruled that enough feedback had been garnered to warrant a public hearing on the proposal. A date has yet to be scheduled.

A total of nine land owners in close proximity to the properties filed statements expressing concerns about property values, glare, noise and traffic during construction, and, generally, the loss of agricultural land.

The company cites proximity to its current plant, land suitability, support of the landowner and ease of connection to the Alberta power gird as reasons for selecting the sites.

According to a proposed construction schedule attached to the company’s original application, work would proceed in the spring of 2020 if approved this fall with final commissioning to take place by the end of next year.

Strathmore solar

Another major solar power facility could be erected next to the Trans-Canada Highway in southern Alberta.

This week, Calgary-based developer Solar Krafte applied to provincial utility regulators to build its Strathmore solar farm, south of the highway on the eastern approach to that city.

The project, comprising a half section of land, would generate 40.5 megawatts of power at peak production.

Written submissions regarding the project from interested parties are due on Sept. 16.

Solar Krafte recently signed a development agreement with German utility giant, Innogy, to proceed with construction of the Hull and Vauxhall solar farms in the Municipal District of Taber.

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