The location of the Vauxhall Solar Project, as proposed by energy developer Solar Krafte, near the town of Vauxhall and as approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission.--Supplied Image
@MedicineHatNews
An approved solar farm near Vauxhall has been put on pause by the developer as the province reviews power pricing and regulations.
The “Vauxhall Solar Farm” was approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in late 2022, and would comprise six quarter-sections in two blocks about 5 kilometres northwest of the town in the MD of Taber.
Construction on the 60-megawatt capacity solar panel array was to be complete by March 2024, but the company now says the earliest construction could begin in March 2025.
An application now before the AUC states the earliest possible in-service date would be December next year, and an alternate completion date request is in June 2027.
“There have been significant delays due to supply chain concerns and impacts related to the Alberta Electric System Operator’s current uncertain regulatory and transmission policy environment, in respect of Alberta’s evolving, transformational change, to-be-determined market design,” reads SolarKrafte’s application for the extension.
This winter the province announced it was ordering a larger review of power pricing that could result in new regulations in 2026.
Last week, TransAlta Utilities announced it was pausing four projects in its development cue until it had more certainty about the look of the future market.
SolarKrafte obtained a one-year extension of its municipal development permit on April 16.
