Hanna Region Transmission Development: Cassils to Ware Junction Preferred and alternate routes selected November 2010 olume 2 WARE JNCTION 132S 862 Why are you receiving this newsletter? 36 Re dd ee r Riv er You are receiving this newsletter because you are a resident, occupant or landowner located near the proposed Cassils to Ware Junction project in the County of Newell No. 4, and we want your input. 876 550 Rosemary Duchess What does this project involve? Rock Lake 544 1 This project involves building approximately 40 kilometres (km) of new transmission line, upgrading a substation and altering an existing transmission line in the area. San Francisco Lake # ) 542 CASSILS 324S 36 BROOKS 873 TILLEY 498S 875 Tilley AltaLink has identified preferred and alternate routes for this 1 project. For stakeholders......who are on a proposed route segment, AltaLink representatives will be contacting you over the next few weeks to gather input. Please look on the back of this newsletter for the various ways you can provide input or receive more information....who are no longer on a proposed route, you will not receive any further information from us about this project. If you have any questions or comments, or wish to follow the progress of this project please contact us at the information listed on the back of this newsletter. Thank you for participating in our consultation process. Your input is important to us. You are invited to an Open House: Included in this Stakeholder Information Package: Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010 Time: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Location: Duchess Community Hall 255 Margaret Avenue West Duchess, Alberta A Dialogue on Electric & Magnetic Fields Please join us at our open house. We want your feedback about the proposed projects. We will work with you to ensure your concerns are heard and understood and your questions are answered. Good Neighbours Public Involvement in Needs or Facilities Applications The Alberta Electric System Operator s Need Overview Maps illustrating the project area
Electricity. When you need it. New 240 k transmission line AltaLink endeavours to find transmission routes with the least overall impact. We began consultation for this project in July 2010. Through public consultation, we have received valuable stakeholder input that has helped us identify the preferred and alternate route options. Our selection process included the consideration of stakeholder input, field work and evaluations of the overall impacts of each route in the following areas: agricultural operations residential impact environmental review cost technical considerations visual aspects special constraints The preferred 240 k route has the least potential impact on: agricultural land uses visual aspects irrigation residences within 800 metres* sensitive wetlands parallels the most amount of existing infrastructure such as highways and 240 k transmission lines *Considers residences that would have a new transmission line closer to them. The alternate 240 k route has the least potential impact on cultivated lands and native vegetation. The rejected west route has the highest potential impact on agricultural land, sensitive wetlands, native vegetation, is about 40 per cent longer and would cost more than the preferred or alternate routes. None of the routes have residences within 150 metres. Each proposed transmission line route option is approximately 40 km long and is proposed to be built with steel lattice structures that are 45 to 50 metres (148 to 164 feet) high and approximately 20 metres (66 feet) wide. The structures will be strung on one side with a set of three wires and will be placed approximately 350 metres (1148 feet) apart. The transmission line right-of-way (a strip of land that must be kept clear of trees and other obstacles) will be approximately 60 metres (164 feet) wide. Please refer to the map included in this information package for more details on the preferred and alternate 240 k routes. If approved by the Alberta tilities Commission (AC), only one route for the proposed 240 k transmission line will be built from the proposed Cassils Substation to the Ware Junction Substation. The AC is a quasi-judicial agency, established by the Alberta government that ensures the fair and responsible delivery of our utility services.
Transmission Line Alteration AltaLink is proposing to alter its existing 240 k transmission line, called 933L, to connect to the Ware Junction Substation. At this time, the existing 933L transmission line runs from the Anderson Substation, past the Ware Junction Substation, to the West Brooks Substation. The Anderson Substation is located north of the Red Deer River, south of Hanna. This line alteration is called an in-out connection and it will help regulate the voltage of electricity so it can be safely distributed. The line alteration also includes installing three new circuit breakers at the Ware Junction Substation. Additional structures and transmission line realignments will depend on the routing of the proposed 240 k transmission line. Substation pgrades AltaLink is proposing to upgrade its existing Ware Junction Substation to connect the proposed 240 k transmission line. The Ware Junction Substation is located in the County of Newell No.4, in NW17-22-14-W4M. The upgrade includes adding five new 240 k circuit breakers and upgrading three existing 240 k circuit breakers. A circuit breaker is a switch designed to protect an electrical circuit. Some termination points for other transmission lines that terminate at the Ware Junction Substation will also change. The existing substation fence will be expanded by approximately 36 metres (118 feet) but no new land will be needed. AltaLink is also proposing to add one circuit breaker to the proposed Cassils Substation, if the substation is approved. The Cassils Substation is proposed to be in NE29-18-15-W4M. More information about the proposed Cassils Substation can be found by visiting www.albertaelectricityfuture.ca/satr or by calling 1-877-269-5903 (toll-free). Potential overlap with ATCO Electric s Eastern Alberta HDC Transmission project Some of ATCO Electric s proposed Eastern Alberta HDC Transmission project s route options are located near AltaLink s proposed Cassils Substation. As a result, some of the routes being proposed by ATCO Electric follow the same alignment as some of the routes being proposed by AltaLink for the Cassils to Ware Junction project, as described in this newsletter. Where ATCO Electric s route would be in the same area as the Cassils to Ware Junction project, the least potential impacts on agriculture land uses, irrigation, residences within 800 metres*, visual, sensitive wetlands and native vegetation, would likely be for both lines to parallel Highway 36. Information about ATCO Electric s routes can be found at www.atcoelectric.com. *Considers residences that would have a new transmission line closer to them. The existing Ware Junction Substation
Electricity. When you need it. What is the project schedule? July-September 2010 First stage of consultation October-November 2010 se stakeholder feedback to refine potential routes December 2010-February 2011 March 2011 July 2012 December 2012 Second stage of consultation File application with the Alberta tilities Commission (AC) Begin project construction if approval is granted by the AC Complete project construction Why is this project needed? The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) has determined that the transmission system needs to be reinforced to meet the growing demand for electricity in the area. The AESO is an independent, not-for-profit entity responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnection Electric System. The proposed transmission line and substation upgrade described in this newsletter are related to a larger area development, called the Hanna Region Transmission Development (HRTD). The HRTD need application, known as a Needs Identification Document, was approved by the AC in April 2010. The AC is a quasi-judicial agency, established by the Alberta government that ensures the fair and responsible delivery of our utility services. For more information on the AESO s HRTD Needs Identification Document, you can visit the AESO website at: www. aeso.ca/transmission/18729.html. The transmission line alteration described in this newsletter is a part of the AESO s Southern Alberta Transmission Reinforcement (SATR) Needs Identification Document, which was approved by the AC in September 2009. For more information about the AESO s SATR Needs Identification Document you can visit the AESO website at: www.aeso.ca/ transmission/19038.html.
Other projects in the area You may know about other transmission projects in the area. We want to ensure that you have the most accurate and up to date information delivered to you in the most efficient manner, therefore you may receive further information about these projects if you are a landowner or resident in the area. Project Name Owner Description Status/Timing Contact Cassils to Bowmanton AltaLink A new new transmission line from west of Brooks to East of Medicine Hat. Application filed. Website: www.albertaelectricityfuture.ca/satr (formerly called A new substation located northeast of Medicine E mail: West Brooks to Hat. satrinfo@altalink.ca Medicine Hat) A new substation, called Cassils, located west of Phone: Brooks. 1 877 269 5903 (toll free) East Palliser Transmission Line AltaLink Approximately 75 km of new transmission line between the proposed Bowmanton Substation, Consultation underway. Website: www.albertaelectricityfuture.ca/satr east of Medicine Hat, north to the existing Cypress E-mail: Substation (East Palliser North). satrinfo@altalink.ca Approximately 35 km of transmission line Phone: between NaturEner s proposed Wild Rose 1 Substation and a proposed Elkwater Switching 1-877-269-5903 (toll-free) Station. A new switching station, to be called Elkwater, near Woolchester. New equipment to the proposed Bowmanton and Cypress Substations. An approximate two km rebuild of an existing single circuit transmission line between the Cypress Substation and the existing Empress Substation. Eastern Alberta HDC ATCO Electric A transmission line between the Gibbons- Redwater area northeast of Edmonton and the Consultation underway. Website: www.atcoelectric.com Transmission Brooks area. The line will be built and operated as a Email: project 500 k high voltage direct current (HDC) line and HDC@atcoelectric.com run approximately 500 km in length. A converter station and related facilities at each end of the new line, to convert power from Phone: 1-866-650-2463 (toll-free) alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and to connect the new facilities to the Alberta electric transmission system.
Electricity. When you need it. What happens during construction? Throughout the construction process, AltaLink and its contractors will follow all applicable federal and provincial legislation and requirements and use appropriate techniques to protect water quality, soil, vegetation and wildlife habitat. Obtaining access and carrying out activities on private property is done in consultation with the landowner. Any noise associated with the construction and/or operation of new facilities will comply with the AC s Noise Control Rule 012 and other relevant provincial and municipal noise regulations and standards. Construction Activites The typical stages of transmission line construction include: Right-of-way, structure workspace and access preparation Materials delivery and storage Tree removal and management of vegetation as required Building of structure foundations Structure assembly and installation Stringing wire (conductor) Completing inspections and energizing the transmission line Cleaning and restoring structure locations and the right-of-way
What s next? Over the next few weeks, AltaLink representatives will be contacting stakeholders on the preferred and alternate routes and the proposed substation upgrade to gather input and arrange a one-on-one consultation meeting with you. During the one-on-one process, the AltaLink representative will document the information provided, help answer any questions or concerns you may have and submit any follow-up request(s). To receive more information or arrange a one-on-one consultation, please contact us using the information provided on the back of this newsletter. Alberta tilities Commission (AC) process AltaLink is planning to submit its Facilities Application to the AC defining its preferred and alternate routes and the proposed substation upgrade in the spring of 2011. A Facilities Application describes our plans to meet technical requirements set by the AESO and provides information about routing, the environment, costs, project components and schedules, and our participant involvement program. The AC reviews all Facilities Applications and may approve, approve with conditions, or deny a Facilities Application. The length of time for the review process varies for each project, and the AC ensures interested parties are given an opportunity to participate in the process. When the AC deems an application is complete, a Notice of Application is issued to parties who may be directly and adversely affected by the proposed project. Typically, a notice is also published in the local newspaper(s). This notice advises the public that a Facilities Application has been received, how copies of the application may be obtained, and how to access any additional material filed by parties supporting or opposing the application. For more information about the AC process, please visit the AC website at www.auc.ab.ca. Enclosed is a copy of the AC brochure Public Involvement in Needs or Facilities Applications that describes how you can be involved in the AC process.