By CHAT News Today

Hearing underway on proposed wind farm project near Oyen

Jun 5, 2018 | 11:11 AM

OYEN, AB — A hearing is currently underway for a proposed wind farm project in the Oyen area.

The Alberta Utilities Commission is currently meeting with representatives from EDP Renewables and members of the community regarding the Sharp Hills Wind Farm, which will be built near Sedalia, Alberta, approximately 35 kilometres north of Oyen.

“What the public hearing process is, is a very formal process similar to a court proceeding, but it brings together all of those people who were unable to resolve their concerns directly with the applicant in the middle of the application process, or before that,” said Jim Law, external relations director with the commission, over the phone from Calgary. “It provides an opportunity for those people to express their objections or concerns or support of the project to a commission panel.”

The wind farm was one of four renewable energy projects to receive support from the provincial government during the first round of the Renewable Electricity Program. The proposed project would consist of 83 wind turbines, and would be capable of producing 248.4 megawatts of electricity.

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Law adds all energy projects in Alberta need to be approved by the commission before shovels can go into the ground.

“You have to treat them all the same,” he said. “What’s fair is fair from one to the other. “The ultimate concern is whether or not it’s in the public interest to proceed with this.”

The hearing is scheduled to wrap up on Friday. Once the hearing wraps up, Law says the commission will review the testimony from the hearing and make a ruling on the project.

“We have three options,” he said. “At the end of the day, when we look at the evidence presented by the applicant or various interveners, we can approve the project as it is, we can approve it with some conditions, or we can deny the application.”

A final decision on the project will be made within 90 days after the hearing has closed, says Law.

Those interested can listen to the hearing at the link.