Power Plant – Interconnection
In this decision, the Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”) approved the application from Kalina Distributed Power Limited (“Kalina”) to construct and operate a power plant designated as the Kalina Energy Centre – Saddle Hills (the “Power Plant”) and to connect the Power Plant to ATCO Electric Ltd.’s distribution system.
Application
The Power Plant is a combined cycle power generation facility with two 22.5-megawatt (“MW”) gas-fired turbines, two heat recovery vapour generators, two 10.4-MW vapour turbine generators, a 0.4-MW emergency backup generator and other associated equipment. The net generating capability will be approximately 64 MW as two MW will be consumed internally.
Kalina’s application included a participant involvement program (“PIP”) confirming that there are no outstanding concerns from impacted parties. It also included an environmental evaluation indicating that the project would have a limited environmental impact. It further included air dispersion modeling and a noise impact assessment (“NIA”) that indicated compliance with all applicable rules, as well as a confirmation of the Historical Resources Act approval and that ATCO Electric Ltd. does not object to the interconnection.
AUC Findings
The AUC found that the application met the information requirements set out in Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations and Hydro Developments. The AUC was also satisfied that the submitted PIP confirmed that Kalina had consulted with all affected parties and complied with Rule 007. Further, the NIA confirmed that the Power Plant is compliant with Rule 012: Noise Control.
Based on the proposed Power Plant activities, implementation of environmental mitigation measures, and the residual effects to the ecosystem components assessed, the AUC accepted the conclusion of the environmental evaluation, confirming that the Power Plant would have a limited environmental impact.
The AUC noted that ATCO Electric Ltd. did not object to the interconnection of the Power Plant subject to its technical feasibility, to Kalina’s execution of a final interconnection proposal, or Kalina meeting ATCO Electric Ltd.’s interconnection requirements and the terms and conditions for connection of distributed generation.
Accordingly, the AUC found approval of the application to be in the public interest, as required by Section 17 of the Alberta Utilities Commission Act. Pursuant to sections 11 and 18 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, the AUC approved the applications for permission to construct and operate the Power Plant and interconnect to ATCO Electric Ltd.’s distribution system.
