EDF’s wind plans facing some mild opposition from county residents
By COLLIN GALLANT on March 24, 2022.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Land bordering the route to the Cypress Hills has been rezoned to allow a major new wind farm, which would essentially twin one now being constructed on the other side of Highway 41. EDF Renewables plans to build the 50-turbine Bull Trail wind farm next year south of Irvine, once construction on the EDF Cypress wind farm is completed later this year. That required a zoning change to allow a “wind energy overlay” in county planning, which was approved after a public hearing Tuesday. About 10 local residents argued against the application centred on land mostly between range roads 21 and 31 from near Trans-Canada Highway to secondary Highway 515. Jason Tweten, of Action Land and Environmental services, spoke on behalf of EDF and said the project would provide long-term, stable tax revenue to the county. He hoped disagreements could be addressed at a further permitting process. “We are well, well aware of environmental requirements of these projects,” said Tweten, who said the application comes after years of environmental impact studies. “We’re committed to the process, and we’re looking forward to consultations through those (future permit) steps and hopefully finding a way to make everyone happy.” County resident Anita Reed said she lives about 800 metres from a proposed turbine site, and feels the the project would impact property value, be harmful to wildlife and detract from the natural beauty of the rolling landscape. “It’s one of the most beautiful corridors in the region, and it’s worth protecting,” she said. Others questioned long-term liability, cleanup costs and permitting process. Four years ago, EDF agreed with a suggestion at county council planning meeting for its Cypress Energy Centre, that it develop a system of bonds to backstop the eventual decommissioning. Those are included in private contracts with landowners for lease and surface access, but are not subject to regulation by the Surface Rights Board. Dan Hofer, of the Elkwater Hutterite Brethren, which controls 112 quarter-sections that would see either turbine sites of buried electrical cable, said the project makes the land useful and he has no concerns about its viability. “For a company to come in and spend $350 million (in total construction costs), they must be solid, and I’m confident that it’s windy,” he said, “We’ve got the resources in this part of the province. I’d like to see it used.” Councillors approved the zoning change with limited debate, though the vote breakdown was not provided. “We’ve heard both sides, and both have their reasons,” said Coun. Richard Oster. Highway development Land near Dunmore is now set aside for a UFA complex and cardlock, after the co-operative successfully applied for a reclassification of agricultural land at the southeast corner of the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Township Road 120. That is just beyond a planned “gasoline alley” strip of highway commercial land proposed by the county for east end of Dunmore. Council also directed the county to engage Alberta Transportation to address setback concerns for potential roadway expansion, and the need to widen it to accommodate transport trucks in a middle turning lane. 22-21
