A map shows the location of a proposed solar field in northern Cypress County.--SUPPLIED IMAGE
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Medicine Hat News
Another major solar power facility proposed to be built in northern Cypress County is going before regulators for approval — the third in a little more than a month for the area near Medicine Hat
The “Estuary Solar Power Plant” would be built to produce 200 megawatts of power from arrays placed on about one section of land near McNeill, Alta.
The privately owned land is adjacent to the Saskatchewan boundary and near the Empress natural gas straddle plants, about 2.1 kilometres northeast of the Plains-Midstream aerodome.
Developer “GreenCells IndyGen Alberta” is a jointly held company created by German-based Greeencells and the Australian-United Kingdom company IndyGen. It notified the Alberta Electric System Operator in early 2021 of the plan, and last fall began formally engaging adjacent landowners.
They submitted their application to build the facility on Jan. 12 to Alberta Utilities Commission, will accept written submissions from affected parties until Feb. 10. The commission may rule that further hearings are needed.
If approved by the AUC and Cypress County in a local permit process this spring, construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2024 and completed later that year.
The plan to build the field and related substation is the fourth major new solar application for the Southeast region field in the last two months:
— Saamis Solar, a 350-megawatt array built on the former Westco Fertilizer dry pond in northwest Medicine Hat by DP Energy;
— Luna Solar Plus Battery, an initial 465-MW field west of Brooks, proposed by Greengate Power;
— Alderson Solar, a 100-MW array, west of Suffield, proposed by German developer HEP;
— Aria Solar, 450-MW, south of Seven Persons in County of Forty Mile, Aria Wind Inc.
