Last Updated: April 19, 2010

AltaLink Management Ltd. (AltaLink) and NaturEner East Palliser Transmission Inc. (NaturEner) are working together to obtain approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to construct and operate a new 240 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and switching station in Cypress County, Alberta (the Project). AltaLink will construct the Project and ultimately operate and maintain it once it is built.
 
The Project has been in development since 2007 and is proposed to connect the Wild Rose 1 and 2 Wind Power Projects (both being developed by NaturEner Energy Canada Inc) to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES). The proposed Project will be composed of two main segments:

• East Palliser North represents the proposed construction of approximately 75 kilometres of new 240 kV transmission line between the proposed Bowmanton substation (part of the West Brooks to East Medicine Hat project) and the existing Cypress substation located near the intersection of Hwy 41 and Hwy 545 in northern Cypress County.
• East Palliser South represents the proposed construction of approximately 36 kilometres of new 240 kV transmission line between NaturEner’s proposed Wild Rose 1 substation (part of the Wild Rose 1 Wind Power Project) and a proposed Elkwater switch station to be located near Woolchester.  The Elkwater switch station will also provide for the connection of NaturEner’s proposed Wild Rose 2 Wind Power Project substation through a small section of new transmission line.

AltaLink intends to submit a Facility Application for this Project to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for approval to build and operate the transmission facilities later this year. Before the application can be completed a new round of consultation on the route options will take place. The Facility Application will incorporate the results of this personal consultation, to the extent practical. It is anticipated that the Facility Application review and approval process by the AUC may take up to 12 months, after which construction could commence.
 
Key project information and updates will be mailed by AltaLink to all affected and nearby landowners in the spring of 2010, prior to the commencement of consultation. Please contact AltaLink directly for more information, or contact any of the people listed below if you have any questions, comments or feedback on this information.