Units 16 and 17, two of the city's electric generation plants. Unit 17 officially went live on April 30. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Gates Guarin

keeping the lights on

New city electricity plant officially online

May 30, 2022 | 4:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The power needs of residents and businesses in the city have been fully secured and city officials hope that could entice future customers.

The city’s newest electric generator, known as Unit 17, was officially brought online on April 30, almost one year to the day when construction began on the site. A grand opening was held Monday.

The plant had an initial forecast of $66 million, which will add an additional 43 megawatts of electricity generation capacity to the city.

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Brad Maynes, managing director of energy and infrastructure, says the project was completed on time and significantly under budget.

“It was a difficult time to be able to [work on a] project like this through two years of COVID protocols, supply chain issues still continue to this day, inflation we’ve certainly seen in the last four to six months, so when I look at the performance, financial performance, it’s exceptional,” Maynes says.

The power plant will act as a security measure for the city, being able to provide power 24/7 should there be any electricity generation issues. Unit 17 was also built to sustain any future residential and industrial growth the city may have.

Brian Strandlund, director of Medicine Hat power and water, says up to 60 people worked on the project, logging in more than 86,000 man-hours. Strandlund hopes the legacy of the plant will be that it brings new opportunities to the city.

“I think that this will bring reliable power and also bring some opportunities for other businesses to come to town,” Strandlund says. “I think this is a key item for that, and then maybe build upon that future with future customers that come to town.”

Strandlund says with regular maintenance, Unit 17 will be able to provide Hatters with power for future generations.

Members of council and several other dignitaries were on-hand for the ceremony. Mayor Linnsie Clark says the plant is a huge step toward shaping the city’s vision for a long-term energy transition plan.

“We are moving forward with the development of an environmental framework, so that’s going to provide an overview of what types of things we’re going to be pursuing with respect to energy conservation and renewables, and so we’re looking forward to seeing that,” Clark says.