Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

By Scott Roblin

Solar Field Hearings

Alberta Utilities Commission holds hearing on Brooks solar expansion

Dec 3, 2019 | 4:51 PM

BROOKS, AB – The community of Brooks is turning into a battlefield this week to decide on the future of a proposed expansion of the Brooks Solar project.

The first of four hearings held by the Alberta Utilities Commission got underway on Tuesday morning in Brooks, bringing together concerned residents and Elemental Energy Renewables Inc.

A few dozen locals streamed in and out of the hearing, however they didn’t address the panel themselves as both the residents and Elemental Energy were represented by legal council.

Much of the morning saw Elemental Energy executives cross-examined on the construction and overall scope of the project, addressing a number of concerns such as property values, solar panel glare, and environmental impacts.

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Brooks Solar II has been proposed as a $50 million expansion to the 17 megawatt Brooks Solar I project and would add 90,000 solar panels over 88 hectares of currently privately-owned land north of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Elemental Energy was questioned on their claim that the expansion will result in zero minutes of glare per year from the panels for both neighbouring residents and nearby motorists.

The renewable energy corporation said their tracker system technology allows the panels to follow the sun throughout the day reducing glare, however concerns were raised over future mechanical issues or weather causing glare to increase.

Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

Questions over Elemental Energy not completing an independent assessment of property values were also addressed, with the company saying there weren’t enough home sales in the area to complete a proper assessment.

The proposed expansion’s impact on birds and amphibians living in neighbouring wetlands was also talked about in the afternoon, with some residents concerned the 750-780 metre setback from Stafford Lake isn’t enough.

Alberta Environment has classified the project as ‘low risk’ in that aspect.

Elemental Energy is claiming the multi-million dollar expansion to the solar farm will provide $4.5 million in economic spin off for the region.

If approved, construction on the project could begin as early as the spring and would open in late 2020.

Three more days of hearings will take place in Brooks at the Heritage Inn & Suites Conference Centre before the Alberta Utilities Commission makes their decision.