Power line upgrade under consideration for Highway 3 outside Medicine Hat

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 8, 2021.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Utility regulators are now considering a new power line upgrade along Highway 3 southwest of Medicine Hat.

The planned line, known as 498L, would connect the proposed Winnifred Wind Power Project, located south of Rattlesnake Reservoir, to the provincial power grid at the “Bullshead substation” about five kilometres from Medicine Hat city limits.

The 25 km, 138Kv line would begin at a new substation, built by project owner Enerfin, on Range Road 84, then run along Township road 114 to Highway No. 3, and eventually to the existing AltaLink substation along Range Road 63.

The Alberta Utilities Commission will accept written submissions from affected parties until Sept. 24.

Enerfin’s proposal is to build a 16-28 turbine array, capable of producing 122 megawatts of power mostly in the County of Forty Mile, north of the hamlet of Whitla.

The company has said it will apply for local permits this fall and could begin construction in late 2022.