The Alberta Utilities Commission on Aug. 1 granted Windy Point Wind Park Ltd. extra time to build a delayed 63-MW wind project.
The company had initially applied for approval of this project in July 2011. The Windy Point Wind Park power project would be located approximately 15 kilometers northeast of Pincher Creek in this Canadian province.
Windy Point on July 26 asked for approval of a time extension from Aug. 31, 2013, until Aug. 31, 2015, in order to complete construction of the power plant. Windy Point stated the time extension was required for three reasons.
- The first reason was that the power plant cannot connect to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System until after the Fidler 312S Substation is in service.
- The second is that the Alberta Electric System Operator informed Windy Point that the power plant may cause transmission system constraints in the area if it is connected prior to the transmission line 911L upgrade, anticipated in the third quarter of 2015, if it is approved.
- Lastly, Windy Point stated that forward‐looking electricity price projections suggest unfavorable economic conditions in the medium term for wind generation.
Windy Point submitted that it anticipated construction of the power plant would commence toward the end of the second quarter of 2014, and completion would occur no later than Aug. 31, 2015.
“Based upon the information provided, Windy Point has demonstrated that the requested time extension is of a minor nature,” said the Aug. 1 commission approval. “In view of the fact the Fidler 312S Substation was approved on May 10, 2013, in Decision 2013-177, the Commission considers the requested time extension is reasonable.”
