Windfarm powering local economy

Bow Island, AB – It’s a beehive of activity at the site of the Whitla Windfarm south of Bow Island as the 56 turbine project begins taking shape amongst the canola, lentil and wheat fields.

Gravel roads spread over the 13,000 hectare site are being improved and maintained, multiple cranes of various sizes are in use for installation, a small-scale cement plant with a dozen cement trucks is situated on-site. And with 325 workers buzzing around, there is no shortage of traffic on the roads.

But to get an idea of the economic impact of the Capital Power Whita Windfarm taking shape you need to start at the base of one of the turbines.

The twelve-foot deep anchor for each turbine requires 43 tonnes of steel rebar and 53 truckloads of cement. From there, a 100-metre steel tower is transported by rail and truck to each of the sites, bolted to a hub with three 66-metre turbine blades by cranes taller than the structure.

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Capital Power’s Jerry Bellikka highlighted a few of the wave of local businesses which have been caught up in the wake of the project.

“You can’t find a hotel room anywhere around. The grocery store is busy, the subway shop is busy, the tire shop is busy,” said Bellikka. “We’ve probably spent $70 million dollars just on construction supplies and equipment and general supplies to keep the project going within this area.”

In addition to the materials, roughly $15,000 is paid annually to landowners for each turbine on their property.

Bow Island Mayor Gordon Reynolds represents one of those communities reaping the positive economic spinoffs. Something that is needed with natural gas drilling slowing down in the area, he added.

“If wind and solar are going to work anywhere, it’s going to be in this region. We’ve got lots of wind – goodness knows – we’ve got the most annual hours of sunshine in Canada,” said Reynolds.

The 200 MW capacity project is the first phase of a planned two-phase project but represents only a fraction of the generation potential of southeastern Alberta. Over 30 more renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of more than 5,000 MW are listed on the Alberta Electric System Operator’s (AESO) project list in and around Medicine Hat, Brooks and Empress.

Grant Hunter, Taber-Warner MLA, was one of several elected officials taking a tour of the site on Thursday.

He said the UCP government is not against such projects or the economic benefits they bring.

“As long as it’s not subsidized by the taxpayer,” said Hunter whose redrawn constituency now includes Bow Island and surrounding areas. “That’s something that we’ve been very clear with out government is that if there is a business case for it, then let’s move forward with it. If it’s going to benefit Albertans, why not go forward with it.”

Once complete, the project will provide up to 10 permanent jobs in operations, maintenance and management of the site.

The potential electricity production of the project could power 67,000 homes annually or, roughly, provide for the residential requirements for a city the size of Medicine Hat.

The second phase of the Whitla project has received regulatory approval and would add just under 100 more mega-watts of capacity to the project.

Phase two will get underway once a power purchase agreement can be found for the additional electricity generated.