Company seeks three-year extension from AUC on wind farm in SE Alberta

By Medicine Hat News on May 27, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

A wind farm developer has requested a three-year extension on plans to build south of Irvine, due to “significant congestion” on the regional power grid and uncertainty about how it will be alleviated.

The Bull Trail wind farm was first approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in 2022, and the next-year construction deadlines were extended to late 2026 as the developer, EDF, said capacity on the power grid was hampered.

Late last week, the global clean energy company told the AUC there is still no clear plan to increase capacity of lines connecting southeast Alberta to the high-demand centres by at least the end of 2029.

An application for an extension to that time, submitted by the French multinational’s law firm, Blake Cassels & Gradon, said 2028 was considered in a previous extension, and there is still no definitive plan to improve access to the Cassils/Newell-Bowmanton-Whitla line that services the area,

“The commission previously stated that (Bull Trail) may receive a time extension for the project upon receiving further conclusive information from the Alberta Electric System Operator regarding congestion in the project area,” Blakes argues.

Bull Trial would consist of 51 turbine towers, with combined maximum generating capacity of about 270 megawatts, that would be built east of Highway 41 and north of Secondary Highway 515.

AESO has stated there is 795 megawatts of existing generation capacity on the line, and another 984 MW which have secured access and future projects representing another 4,500 MW having expressed interest.

There is no immediate timetable for the AUC to consider the application.

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