Facilities – Electricity
Application
Hilda Wind G.P. Inc. (“Hilda Wind”) and AltaLink Management Ltd. (“AML”) filed facility applications for the Hilda Wind Power Project Connection (the “Project”).
Decision
Under ss. 14, 15, and 19 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, (“HEEA”) the AUC granted Hilda Wind G.P. Inc. approval to construct and operate Transmission Line 658AL.
Under ss. 14, 15, 18, and 19 of the HEEA, the AUC granted AML approval to construct and operate the Hilda 662R Radio Site, alter Transmission Line 658L, and connect Transmission Line 658L to Transmission Line 658AL.
Applicable Legislation
Alberta Utilities Commission Act, SA 2007, c A-37.2 – s 9.
Hydro and Electric Energy Act, RSA 2000, c H-16 – ss 14, 15, 18, and 19.
Transmission Regulation, Alta Reg 86/2007.
Wildlife Directive for Alberta Wind Energy Projects.
Pertinent Issues
The AUC had already granted Hilda Wind approval to construct and operate the 100-megawatt Hilda Wind Power Plant and the Hilda 662S Substation. The Alberta Electric System Operator issued a letter of approval for the need for transmission development to respond to the system access service request from the market participant Hilda Wind.
Hilda Wind applied to the AUC for approval to construct and operate a 138-kilovolt transmission line designated Transmission Line 658AL (“Line 658AL”). Line 658AL will connect the Hilda 662S Substation to AML’s existing Transmission Line 658L to connect the wind power plant to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System.
AML applied for permission to alter existing Transmission Line 658L to accommodate the connection and for permission to connect Transmission Line 658L to Transmission Line 658AL. AML also applied for permission to construct and operate a radio site within Hilda Wind’s Hilda 662S Substation and approximately 620 meters of underground fibre optic cable from its Chappice Lake 649S Substation to a splice box on Transmission Line 676L/879L.
