Plans are underway for a wind farm two kilometres southeast of Dalum, in the Wintering Hills of Wheatland County.
If approved it will generate enough electricity to run several small communities, and add a clean sustainable energy source to the energy grid, said Kolja Vainstein a renewable Energy Engineer, for Suncor Energy Services Inc.
The wind farm will generate 99 megawatts of energy using up to 66 wind turbines. A two megawatt turbine meets the energy needs of about 100 homes.
Suncor Energy Products Inc., and Acciona Wind Energy Canada Inc. the two companies involved in the program, held an open house meeting at the Dalum Community Hall on Thursday, June 26.
“We have tested the wind levels, and have received good support from the community, so things are looking positive, it will be exciting moving forward,” said Vainstein.
Gary Sproule is one of the many landowners who agreed to let the companies make him an option to use his land to build the wind farms if approved, and says it is something he has seen done before and wanted to be a part of.
“The turbines make very little noise and it is supporting something that will help make this world a better place,” said Sproule.
Wind power currently accounts for only about one per cent of Canada’s total electricity, and while Vanstein says you have to realistic, looking towards the future has to be a priority.
“We're trying to be diversified, and the more we can add clean and sustainable energy sources to the grid, the better,” said Vanstein.
The project is currently being reviewed by the Alberta Utilities Commission and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The environmental assessment will determine the potential environmental and social effects of the proposed wind farm.
If approved by those organizations the next step will be to get approval from the municipal, provincial, and federal governments.
The project will be located over 24 sections of land in Township 25 and 26.
There are currently 1,398 wind turbines operating in Canada, on 81 wind farms, totalling enough power for 563,000 homes.