Suncor Energy Products Inc. wind turbine energy project in the Handhills is moving closer to receiving regulatory approval.
    Keith Knudsen, Renewable Energy Engineer and the Project Manager, said Suncor responded to the last round of information requests from the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) in May of this year,
    The application will now be advertised to accept any submissions from affected parties  until the submission deadline of June 26.
    “The two processes we’re going through at the moment are the AUC application and the inter-connection application, which are connected but they’re sort of two different approvals, so we’re working through both those; and the inter-connection - we’re facing the same kind of challenges (as BluEarth Renewables) with getting the infrastructure in place from the Alberta Electric System Operator perspective,” said Knudsen.
    The Mail reported in last week’s edition that BluEarth Renewables Handhills wind project deadline was extended to 2018, waiting on separate approval for transmission lines. 
    Knudsen said he hopes his company can help move that approval process forward.
    “Once we get that (AUC) permit, then we’re going to be pushing to get that inter-connection permit in place,” he notes.
    Suncor applied in 2012 to the AUC for approval of an 80 megawatt wind power plant about six kilometres south of Delia.
    If Suncor’s project permit is approved, Knudsen said pre-construction, such as roads and collector lines for the turbines, could start as early as this year.

    The Village of Delia is 100 years old this year, and has planned a big party to mark the occasion.
    From August 1 to 3, which is over the August long weekend, the village will be pulling out all the stops to celebrate its milestone.
    The celebration officially kicks off Saturday morning with a parade at 10 am., followed by the opening ceremonies.
    Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor, Colonel (Retired), the Honourable Donald S. Ethell, is attending the opening ceremony and  following that, the re-dedication of Delia’s Cenotaph Memorial Park over to the name Veteran’s Memorial Park.
    Ethell joined the Canadian Army as a rifleman in 1955.
    Donna Brink from Hanna will be refreshing town murals in time for the festivities.
    The weekend celebrations also include a couple of dances, garden tours, cemetery tours, school tours, kids games, a beer garden, and transportation to different locations on a “people mover” - a little train people can get on and off.
    The historical society museum will also be open for demonstrations and tours.
    Barry McLeod of the Delia Centennial Committee said visitors can register for the event for a single fee on Friday evening, August 1st, and receive a bracelet for the entire weekend, which covers a number of meals.
 There will also be different bracelets available for people who don’t want the full weekend package.
    McLeod said The Centennial Committee has received a lot of support, collecting about $10,000 from corporate and business donations, as well a some grants from the federal and provincial governments.
    He said a schedule of events will be going up on the village’s website at www.delia.ca.