Western Alberta Transmission Line

Transcription

1 Western Alberta Transmission Line July 010 Who can you contact for more information? To learn more about the proposed project you can contact: AltaLink at (toll-free) To learn more about Alberta s electric system, you can contact: Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) at stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca To learn more about the regulatory process you can contact: Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) at (You can call toll-free by dialing before the number.) utilitiesconcerns@auc.ab.ca Included in this Stakeholder Information Package: Project maps AltaLink in Central Alberta Compensation Underground and cost Removed routes Facts about Direct Current Transmission Lines Good Neighbours AUC brochure: Public Involvement in Needs or Facilities Applications Thank you! Your input is important to us. To learn more about this project please visit or contact us at the information listed below. Why are you receiving this newsletter? GENESEE AREA Pigeon Lake WARBURG RIMBEY Sylvan Lake Who is AltaLink? AltaLink, Alberta s largest transmission provider, is actively working with stakeholders to build more than 40 new transmission projects, responding to the province s growth and ensuring the transmission system will meet Alberta s needs today and in the future. Hundreds of kilometres of new, efficient transmission lines will ensure our customers have access to clean wind generated power and the lowest priced electricity Alberta has to offer. Visit us online! Our website has the most up-to-date project information, newsletters, a feedback section and more. PLUS check out our interactive map that shows the refined route locations. This map will help you find your location in proximity to the potential route options. EDMONTON PONOKA ECKVILLE 611 3rd Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta TA 7W7 Phone: (toll-free) westernline@altalink.ca Fax: RED DEER PINE LAKE Gleniffer Lake You are receiving this newsletter because you are a stakeholder near the proposed Western Alberta Transmission Line project and we want to provide you with important information about refined transmission line route options. We used the stakeholder input we gathered during the first stage of consultation to refine our preliminary route options. Thank you for your input. INNISFAIL OLDS LINDEN CROSSFIELD CALGARY Potential Issue IRRICANA LANGDON INDUS AREA Removed New Please provide us your input about these route options. Your input will help us identify preferred and alternate routes for the proposed line. Detailed maps are included in this package. About the route options: The route options in the map to the left have been refined using stakeholder input. None of these options have been approved. If approved, we will only build one line. We will identify preferred and alternate route options, but we may include all the red and green route options to the left in our application. The final route will be chosen by the Alberta Utilities Commission. For stakeholders......who are on a new proposed route segment, this may be the first stakeholder information package you re receiving about this project. Your input is very important to us. Please look inside this newsletter for the various ways you can provide your input. Detailed maps of all the proposed routes are included in this package. We also have an interactive map on our website that will help you find your location in proximity to the potential route options....who are no longer on a proposed route, you will not receive any further correspondence from us about this project. If you wish to follow the progress of the project or if you have questions, please contact us using any of the ways listed in this newsletter. Printed on 100% recycled paper. westernline@altalink.ca (toll-free)

2 Electricity. When you need it. What does this project involve? The proposed project: Is a 500 kv (500,000 volts) Direct Current (DC) transmission line. Will be built between the Genesee and Langdon areas. Will be 35 to 375 kilometres in length depending on the final route. Will include a converter station at each end of the line that changes electricity from DC to Alternating Current (AC) and back so the DC line can connect with the rest of the province s AC electricity system. How did we refine the preliminary route options? Your input helped us refine the preliminary route options. Thank you for providing us with your valuable feedback. We used stakeholder input and the results from further studies and field work, including environmental evaluations, to refine the preliminary route options. Some of the information we received from stakeholders included: Locations of residences and other buildings that were previously unknown. Development plans. Irrigation systems. Oil and gas facilities. Other important land features. In an effort to determine the route with the lowest overall impact, we have removed several route segments and added new segments for consideration. We have included maps of the refined route options in this package and we want your input about these route options. More information about how you can provide your input is included in this newsletter. New potential route segments In response to stakeholder input and further investigation we have added six new route segments. The segments include: An option west and south of the Town of Ponoka to avoid future expansion and development to the east of the town. An option west of Gleniffer Reservoir (Lake) that impacts fewer residences within 800 metres. An option southeast of the Town of Ponoka that impacts fewer residences within 150 metres. A crossing at the Red Deer River east of Red Deer to avoid a future country residential development. A crossing at Highway northeast of the Town of Crossfield in an area with fewer landscape challenges. An option north and west of the Hamlet of Kathryn to avoid future expansion and development. Please see the maps included in this package to view the new proposed route segments.

3 Electricity. When you need it. What about the converter stations? Two converter stations are required for this project, one in the Genesee area and one in the Langdon area. Converter stations change DC electricity to AC and back so the DC line can connect with the rest of the province s AC system. Photo: courtesy of ABB. The converter stations can measure up to 500 metres by 500 metres. We will ensure the converter stations are within the noise guidelines set by the AUC in its Rule 1. For more information about the AUC s Rule 1 please visit its website at: Removed route segments We removed several route segments from consideration based on their impacts to residences, agriculture, the environment and other factors. Please see the document included in this package titled Removed routes for descriptions and images of the removed route segments. What information do we need from you? The detailed strip mosaic maps included in this package have preliminary structure locations. Where possible we ve tried to avoid residences, wetland areas and reduce agricultural impacts, among other potential impacts. We would like your input about these preliminary structure locations. If there are features we haven t identified that we should be aware of such as agricultural operations or other facilities, please let us know. The strip mosaic maps are only included in packages to stakeholders on proposed routes, not to stakeholders on routes that have been removed. What s next? DC converter station in Sweden similar to the ones we are proposing. Telecommunications towers Telecommunications towers will also be required at both the Langdon and Genesee converter station sites. Telecommunications towers support equipment that transmits data to our system control centre, allowing us to monitor and control the safe and reliable operation of the electrical system. We will have more information about the telecommunications towers at the upcoming open houses and will mail out further details to affected stakeholders as the project progresses. The new Langdon telecommunications tower will replace a smaller existing tower currently at the Langdon Substation. Typical self-supporting telecommunications tower. 10 After we gather further stakeholder input and other technical and environmental information about our refined route options, we will identify preferred and alternate routes to include in our Facilities Application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). The AUC is a quasi-judicial agency that ensures the fair We are and responsible delivery currently at of our utility services. We this stage. expect to determine our preferred and alternate routes and file our Facilities Application between December 010 and February 011. Conceptual Project parameters are set by the Government of Alberta for Critical Transmission Infrastructure projects. Preliminary Identify potential route options and consult with stakeholders. Detailed Use stakeholder input and other information from activities such as field work to modify and refine the route options and consult with stakeholders about the refined route options. Final Use stakeholder input and other information to determine preferred and alternate routes, inform stakeholders and file an application with the Alberta Utilities Commission. Your input is important throughout the route identification process. Facilities Application 3

4 Electricity. When you need it. How can you provide input? Your input is important to us. You can provide your input by contacting us directly or attending open houses and information centres. We will also be contacting all landowners, occupants or renters who have property or reside on or directly adjacent to a proposed transmission line route option to schedule one-on-one consultations. Your participation in the one-on-one consultation process is important. Through these discussions we will gather detailed information about your property and our preliminary structure locations and we will use this information to help us identify preferred and alternate routes. We encourage you to use this opportunity to provide us your input because it is important in determining preferred and alternate routes. Engaging in one-on-one consultations Who will we contact to complete a one-on-one consultation? There are two types of stakeholders we would like to complete one-on-one consultations with: Stakeholders who have property or reside on a proposed transmission line route option Stakeholders who have property or reside directly adjacent to a proposed transmission line route option Stakeholders who do not have property or reside on or directly adjacent to a proposed transmission line route option can participate in one-on-one consultations if they wish. If you are unsure if you need to complete a one-on-one, please contact us and we will let you know. If you completed a one-on-one consultation during the first stage of consultation we would still like to meet with you to gather your input during this stage of consultation. How does the one-on-one consultation process work? AltaLink uses publicly available information from phonebooks and online 411 sources to find contact information for stakeholders. Once this information is compiled, Community Consultation Agents (CCAs), AltaLink s authorized representatives, will contact stakeholders to schedule one-on-one consultations. CCAs complete an extensive training program to ensure they are familiar with the project and can answer questions that arise during the one-on-one process. One-on-one consultations typically take place at your home and last one to three hours depending on the issues being discussed and the amount of land potentially affected. 4

5 During the one-on-one process: 1. The CCA will document the information you provide on forms.. Both you and the CCA will sign the forms after reviewing them to ensure they accurately reflect the discussion. Signing these documents is optional. Even if you sign them, you can request to change the information on a completed document at any time. 3. You will receive a copy of the forms for your records. 4. One copy will be returned to AltaLink for entering into our database so it can be taken into account by our routing department. Some of the Western Alberta Transmission Line CCAs. Contacting us directly Phone: (toll-free) westernline@altalink.ca Website: Address: Attn: Stakeholder Engagement Western Alberta Transmission Line Avenue SE Calgary AB, TA 7W7 Attending open houses Our representatives will be available at the open houses to share information, gather your input and answer any questions you may have. We will also have project information for you to review. Please see our open house schedule on page six of this newsletter for the locations, dates, times and addresses of the open houses. The open house details will also be advertised in local newspapers. We understand stakeholders may be busy when our open houses are scheduled. To accommodate stakeholders schedules, we are hosting open houses for four weeks, holding information centres for an additional four weeks and will come to your home at a time that s convenient for you to conduct a one-on-one consultation. We can also conduct a one-on-one over the phone. We hope this will allow you the opportunity to provide us with your input. 5

6 Electricity. When you need it. Open house schedule Location Date Time Address Olds Tuesday, August p.m. Crossfield Wednesday, August p.m. Irricana Thursday, August p.m. Innisfail Tuesday, August p.m. Pine Lake Wednesday, August p.m. Eckville Thursday, August p.m. Warburg Monday, August p.m. Ponoka Tuesday, August p.m. Rimbey Wednesday, September p.m. Linden Wednesday, September p.m. Indus Thursday, September p.m. Olds Legion Street Crossfield Community Centre 900 Mountain Avenue Irricana Community Hall Street Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion Avenue Pine Lake Ag Park Pavilion - NE W4 Approximately two kilometres south of Highway 4 on Highway 816 Eckville Community Centre Street Warburg Community Centre A Avenue Ponoka Kinsmen Community Centre Avenue Rimbey Community Centre Street Linden Cultural Centre 15 1 Street SE Indus Recreation Centre 51 55A, Rg Road 81A 6

7 Attending information centres Information centres provide the opportunity to meet with AltaLink representatives at times that are convenient for you. If you cannot attend an open house and would like to discuss the project with an AltaLink representative please visit one of our information centres below. If you d like to complete a one-on-one consultation at an information centre, you can either arrange a time in advance or drop by at a time that s convenient for you. Location Dates Time Address Didsbury September p.m. Didsbury Memorial Complex Avenue Sylvan Lake September p.m. Chateau Suites 5100 Lakeshore Drive Ponoka September p.m. Elks Hall 5901 Highway A Indus September p.m. Indus Recreation Centre - Meeting room 51 55A, Rg Road 81A Warburg October p.m. Warburg Community Centre A Avenue Thank you for participating in our consultation process. Your input is important to us. 7

8 Electricity. When you need it. What are the project details? What is Direct Current and why is it being proposed for this project? A Direct Current (DC) line is different from a traditional Alternating Current (AC) line because the current continually flows in the same direction, similar to the current in a flashlight or automobile battery. DC lines are new to Alberta but are in operation in Manitoba, Québec and many other parts of the world. DC lines: Can transport large amounts of power more efficiently than AC lines. Have smaller structures than the majority of 500 kv AC lines. Are scalable, meaning the amount of power the line is able to carry can be increased by adding equipment at each end of the line. For more information about DC lines, please read the Facts about Direct Current Transmission Lines included in this package. What types of structures are being considered? There are two possible structure types that can be used for this project lattice and tubular. Please see below for images of both structure types. For more information about structure types, including 3D models of the structures, please visit our open houses. Height: metres Tower base: 9-1 metres Crossarm width: 8-30 metres Right-of-way: 55 metres (for Greenfield route or where it parallels one existing line) 65 metres (where it parallels more than one existing line) Span length: 365 metres 3-D rendering of a DC lattice structure. 3-D rendering of a DC tubular structure. Height: metres Tower base: metres Crossarm width: 4-8 metres Right-of-way: 55 metres Span length: metres 8

9 What about tubular structures? Tubular structures are typically more expensive than lattice structures and are not normally used in agricultural areas. They are more often used for urban areas or in special circumstances. We are not considering tubular structures for any proposed routes that parallel existing lines because we ve heard from stakeholders that farming around paralleled lines with different span lengths (space between structures) would be a major inconvenience. Tubular structures have shorter span lengths than existing lattice lines. Please see the image below that shows the anticipated difference in span lengths. Some stakeholders have told us tubular structures offer a reduction in visual impact and have a decreased agricultural impact due to the smaller base. We will discuss tubular structures with stakeholders who are on Greenfield route options (areas with no other transmission lines) to determine if we should include this option as an alternative to lattice structures in our Facilities Application. Tubular Existing Lattice 800 metres Structure type Span length Number of structures per typical quarter section Tubular (500 kv DC) Lattice (Existing 40 kv) metres 365 metres metres Working around transmission lines Farm equipment measuring up to 6 metres (0 feet) tall can be safely operated under both the proposed 500 kv lattice and tubular structures. Most existing power lines allow for 4. metre (14 foot) tall farm equipment. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) should not be affected by a DC transmission line. We will investigate if you believe your GPS receiver has been affected by a transmission line. The area where a transmission line is located must be kept clear of trees and other obstacles to ensure the safe operation of the line. This area is known as a right-of-way. Buildings and other structures can be built right up to the edge of the right-of-way. 9

10 Electricity. When you need it. What about the converter stations? Two converter stations are required for this project, one in the Genesee area and one in the Langdon area. Converter stations change DC electricity to AC and back so the DC line can connect with the rest of the province s AC system. Photo: courtesy of ABB. The converter stations can measure up to 500 metres by 500 metres. We will ensure the converter stations are within the noise guidelines set by the AUC in its Rule 1. For more information about the AUC s Rule 1 please visit its website at: Removed route segments We removed several route segments from consideration based on their impacts to residences, agriculture, the environment and other factors. Please see the document included in this package titled Removed routes for descriptions and images of the removed route segments. What information do we need from you? The detailed strip mosaic maps included in this package have preliminary structure locations. Where possible we ve tried to avoid residences, wetland areas and reduce agricultural impacts, among other potential impacts. We would like your input about these preliminary structure locations. If there are features we haven t identified that we should be aware of such as agricultural operations or other facilities, please let us know. The strip mosaic maps are only included in packages to stakeholders on proposed routes, not to stakeholders on routes that have been removed. What s next? DC converter station in Sweden similar to the ones we are proposing. Telecommunications towers Telecommunications towers will also be required at both the Langdon and Genesee converter station sites. Telecommunications towers support equipment that transmits data to our system control centre, allowing us to monitor and control the safe and reliable operation of the electrical system. We will have more information about the telecommunications towers at the upcoming open houses and will mail out further details to affected stakeholders as the project progresses. The new Langdon telecommunications tower will replace a smaller existing tower currently at the Langdon Substation. Typical self-supporting telecommunications tower. 10 After we gather further stakeholder input and other technical and environmental information about our refined route options, we will identify preferred and alternate routes to include in our Facilities Application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). The AUC is a quasi-judicial agency that ensures the fair We are and responsible delivery currently at of our utility services. We this stage. expect to determine our preferred and alternate routes and file our Facilities Application between December 010 and February 011. Conceptual Project parameters are set by the Government of Alberta for Critical Transmission Infrastructure projects. Preliminary Identify potential route options and consult with stakeholders. Detailed Use stakeholder input and other information from activities such as field work to modify and refine the route options and consult with stakeholders about the refined route options. Final Use stakeholder input and other information to determine preferred and alternate routes, inform stakeholders and file an application with the Alberta Utilities Commission. Your input is important throughout the route identification process. Facilities Application 3

11 What is the project schedule? Activities completed Winter/Spring 010 Spring 010 First stage of consultation - included open houses, information centres and one-on-one consultation as requested by stakeholders. Used stakeholder feedback to refine potential routes. Activities planned Summer/Fall 010 Second stage of consultation - includes open houses, information centres and one-on-one consultation with stakeholders who have property or reside on or directly adjacent to the refined route options. Public consultation Fall 010 December 010/ February 011 Spring 011 to Winter 01 Use stakeholder feedback to help us identify preferred and alternate route options. We will continue to consult and communicate with stakeholders throughout the application process, as well as with affected stakeholders during any future construction process. Determine preferred and alternate route options and file application with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). AUC process: the AUC will review our application for completeness, schedule and notify stakeholders of the project hearing, conduct the hearing and can either approve, approve with conditions or deny the application. *Summer 01 Anticipated construction start date, pending the AUC decision. *Fall 014 Anticipated construction completion date. *These steps will only occur if our Facilities Application is approved by the AUC. If the AUC approves the project, we will continue to communicate and consult with stakeholders beyond the application process into the construction stage. The land negotiation process is expected to begin after we determine preferred and alternate route options. For more information about the land negotiation process, please see the document titled Compensation included in this package. 11

12 Western Alberta Transmission Line July 010 Who can you contact for more information? To learn more about the proposed project you can contact: AltaLink at (toll-free) To learn more about Alberta s electric system, you can contact: Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) at stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca To learn more about the regulatory process you can contact: Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) at (You can call toll-free by dialing before the number.) utilitiesconcerns@auc.ab.ca Included in this Stakeholder Information Package: Project maps AltaLink in Central Alberta Compensation Underground and cost Removed routes Facts about Direct Current Transmission Lines Good Neighbours AUC brochure: Public Involvement in Needs or Facilities Applications Thank you! Your input is important to us. To learn more about this project please visit or contact us at the information listed below. Why are you receiving this newsletter? GENESEE AREA Pigeon Lake WARBURG RIMBEY Sylvan Lake Who is AltaLink? AltaLink, Alberta s largest transmission provider, is actively working with stakeholders to build more than 40 new transmission projects, responding to the province s growth and ensuring the transmission system will meet Alberta s needs today and in the future. Hundreds of kilometres of new, efficient transmission lines will ensure our customers have access to clean wind generated power and the lowest priced electricity Alberta has to offer. Visit us online! Our website has the most up-to-date project information, newsletters, a feedback section and more. PLUS check out our interactive map that shows the refined route locations. This map will help you find your location in proximity to the potential route options. EDMONTON PONOKA RED DEER ECKVILLE 611 3rd Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta TA 7W7 Phone: (toll-free) westernline@altalink.ca Fax: PINE LAKE Gleniffer Lake You are receiving this newsletter because you are a stakeholder near the proposed Western Alberta Transmission Line project and we want to provide you with important information about refined transmission line route options. We used the stakeholder input we gathered during the first stage of consultation to refine our preliminary route options. Thank you for your input. INNISFAIL OLDS LINDEN CROSSFIELD CALGARY Potential Issue IRRICANA LANGDON INDUS AREA Removed New Please provide us your input about these route options. Your input will help us identify preferred and alternate routes for the proposed line. Detailed maps are included in this package. About the route options: The route options in the map to the left have been refined using stakeholder input. None of these options have been approved. If approved, we will only build one line. We will identify preferred and alternate route options, but we may include all the red and green route options to the left in our application. The final route will be chosen by the Alberta Utilities Commission. For stakeholders......who are on a new proposed route segment, this may be the first stakeholder information package you re receiving about this project. Your input is very important to us. Please look inside this newsletter for the various ways you can provide your input. Detailed maps of all the proposed routes are included in this package. We also have an interactive map on our website that will help you find your location in proximity to the potential route options....who are no longer on a proposed route, you will not receive any further correspondence from us about this project. If you wish to follow the progress of the project or if you have questions, please contact us using any of the ways listed in this newsletter. Printed on 100% recycled paper. westernline@altalink.ca (toll-free)