Prairie Land School Division (PLRD) has signed on to the Bull Creek Wind Project to meet its power needs for the next 25 years.
PLRD is a member of the Alberta Schools Purchasing Consortium. This was formed to help its membership reduce risks associated with the fluctuations of energy prices.
In January of this yearThe Drumheller Mail reported The PLRD was looking at signing on with a major wind project. The consortium would buy power from the wind farm to help stabilize energy prices. At their June 20 Board Meeting the Council passed a motion to participate in the 25 year Bull Creek Wind Power Project.
“The project is focused on the sustainable, affordable production of renewable energy through wind and solar power generation. By working through this consortium to secure energy for PLRD schools, the Board envisions cheaper electrical costs over the 25-year period that this contract is in effect,” stated the board’s highlights.
The Bull Creek Project will be located in East Central Alberta approximately 60 kilometres southeast of Wainwright near the Alberta Saskatchewan border. It has a proposed capacity of up to 115 megawatts coming from 46 wind turbines.
BluEarth Renewables is developing the project and they would continue as owner and operator. The power generated will be sold to the Alberta School Purchasing Consortium and they are working on a long-term power purchase agreement.
Francois Gagnon, chair of the Alberta Schools Commodity Purchasing Consortium previously told The Mail the project should add up to a great savings for the school and also have potential curriculum benefits.
“This project is sustainable from a cost point of view, and actually we believe it will give us lower costs as far as power is concerned for the next 25 years,” said Gagnon. “We are also protecting ourselves from the future rise of electrical prices.”
“From the school point of view it is showing sustainability on the environmental front and showing our students they can do something about the environment like the school divisions. We are leading by example and also reducing the carbon footprint for school districts,” said Gagnon.
