Facilities – Electricity
Applications
TransCanada Energy Ltd. (“TransCanada”) has approval to construct and operate the 102.5-megawatt Saddlebrook Solar and Battery Storage Project (the “Power Plant”) located near Aldersyde. TransCanada also has approval to construct and operate the power plant substation, designated as Saddlebrook 303S Substation (the “Substation”).
TransCanada filed a system access service request with the Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”) to connect the Power Plant to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (“AIES”). The AESO determined that a new 138-kilovolt (“kV”) transmission line connecting the Substation to an existing transmission line was required and issued a letter of approval for the need for such transmission development.
AltaLink Management Ltd. (“AML”) applied to the AUC for approval to construct and operate a new 138-kV transmission line, which would be 80 metres long and designated as Transmission Line 727AAL (“Line 727AAL”). Line 727AAL would run from existing Transmission Line 727AL to the Substation, connecting the Substation to the AIES. AML also applied to construct two kilometres of underground fibre optic cable for telecommunications along the existing Transmission Line 727AL.
TransCanada applied to the AUC for permission to connect the Substation to Line 727AAL constructed by AML.
Decisions
The AUC approved the facility applications from AML for the transmission facilities for the Saddlebrook Solar and Battery Storage Connection project. The AUC approved the construction of Line 727AAL, telecommunications fibre optic cable, transmission line alteration, and the connection of the Power Plant to the AIES.
Because of the duplication with the connection application filed by AML, the AUC denied the connection application filed by TransCanada.
Applicable Legislation
Hydro and Electric Energy Act, RSA 2000, c H-16 – ss. 14, 15, 18 and 19.
ISO Rules Section 501.3 – Abbreviated Needs Approval Process
