Building community connections August 2010 Kilowatt Connection.

Aerial view of the construction progress of the Air Quality Control System at K3.

Keephills 3 Update Traffic and Road Construction at Keephills 3 (K3) is approximately 90 per cent complete and the focus has now turned to Safety training and commissioning. Keephills 3 - Once complete, K3 will be one of ’s most Construction Traffic Schedule advanced coal-fired plants. As a pioneer facility in the The majority of the K3 construction traffic travels industry, new training methods must be developed to west to the site in the morning and travels east from ensure all employees can operate new technology and the site in the afternoon. Maximum traffic flows are equipment safely and effectively. 15 – 20 minutes in duration. The following outlines the peak flow traffic times. This information is The initial focus of training at K3 was safety, including provided so that residents may avoid use of the noted the specific training required for safe access to a highways at peak times (if possible) to reduce travel construction site. An example of one portion of this time delays due to traffic volume. We anticipate training is the Construction Safety Training System traffic volume to steadily decrease over the coming (CSTS) which is a computer-based course created by months as fewer workers are required onsite. the Construction Safety Association (ACSA) that provides instruction and examination on various Monday – Monday – Friday (p.m.) health and safety topics. materials, training modules and video footage Friday (a.m.) Thursday 3:25 p.m. – compiled during the current training efforts. As the construction phase nears completion, the focus 6:30 a.m. - 7 (p.m.) 3:45 p.m. of training is shifting to equipment and operations. Commissioning Status Update a.m. 5:25 p.m. – Eastbound on 5:45 p.m. Both hands-on and classroom training methods are Commissioning includes the steps or stages of bringing Westbound on Hwy 627 being used. systems online until K3 is fully operational. At this point Hwy 627 Eastbound on – exit site via “Along the way, we are capturing the learnings for commissioning is about six per cent complete. As new – enter site via Hwy 627 RR40 future training use by documenting what we systems come online new safety and environmental RR40 – exit site via experience, by utilizing vendors’ training manuals and processes must be created and validated. RR40 presentation software, and where possible, by “Right now the water systems are coming online,” TransAlta and Capital Power monitor employee and videotaping commissioning activities and classroom explains Bryan Wilson, environmental technician for K3. contractor driving behaviours on roads and highways training,” says Lorne Shewfelt, training and The focus is on the safe introduction of chemicals into that access the K3 site. To help ensure a high standard commissioning lead at K3. the water treatment plant and cooling tower systems. of safety, residents are encouraged to phone the K3 In addition to these training efforts, control room Environmental control is being upped by introducing Stakeholder Hotline at 1-877-636-7823 if they simulations are being conducted using the Distributed new systems such as mercury capture, witness unsafe or aggressive driving practices. Control System (DCS) and operations and desulphurization (SOx), particulate capture and burner Bus use by workers continues to increase and maintenance staff are shadowing their counterparts at technology to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are currently 17 busses transport almost 50 per cent of Genesee 3, which is the first operating coal plant in major contributors to atmospheric pollution. These the 1,600 workers to and from site each day. Canada to use supercritical boiler technology, which technologies are a new development to TransAlta’s will be used at K3. coal-fired plants and they strive to minimize the An established training program is being created at K3 environmental pollutants emitted during the for future operators. This program will use the written generation of power from coal.

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Building community connections

U of A Archaeology Project Helping Paul First Nation Situated adjacent to the Highvale Mine, near Fight Wildfires Lake Wabamun, is a treed ridge with a commanding view of the surrounding area. The ridge was frequented by First Nations from the end of the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago. TransAlta owns the land which is part of the Highvale mine. Early testing indicated this was a site of historical significance, rich in stone artifacts such as stone tools and tool-making items and projectile heads. “This rich archaeological site was identified during a historical artifacts study - an activity performed prior to any disturbance by mining,” said Rod Kause, A Paul First Nation elder performs a director of corporate environment, health ceremony honouring the archaelogical site and safety. When the Paul First Nation was hit by several large grass and brush fires, TransAlta was there to help out this important neighbour. TransAlta has since set the site aside and has been working with the Government of Alberta and the University of Alberta to ensure the site is properly preserved with findings We worked closely with the Nation to determine how we could help reduce the burden documented. of fighting the fires. One of the Nation’s biggest issues was the limited access that firefighters had to nearby water sources. Paul First Nation recently honoured the archaeological site by performing a ceremony, naming the site Ahai-Mneh (roughly pronounced “ah-him-neh”) and by presenting a “They were accessing water from their reservoir, which was costing them valuable feast in honour of the ancestors who once occupied the site. The name means shallow firefighting time,” said Rod Kause, director of corporate environment health & safety. water lake, referring to a large lake that was once situated near the site. “We had water and equipment, so we jumped in to support efforts where we could.” “The ceremony was performed by a female elder of the band,” explains Janet Janvier, Working with Prairie Mine and Royalty (PMRL) – the contract mining company that Aboriginal relations advisor. “Because women were traditionally in charge of the home works with us at the Highvale mine - we provided water haulers, with hauling being and the camp, the naming ceremony was led by the female elders as part of their role done by Keephills Contracting. We also provided pumps and set up pump stations near within the band.” affected areas to get water to firefighters. Present at the naming ceremony were representatives from TransAlta, Paul First Nation, Within a few days of the fires starting, they were squelched and most evacuated and staff and students of the University of Alberta’s archaeological department who will residents were allowed to start returning home. be excavating and documenting the artifacts found at the site. Under the direction of Professor Jack Ives, executive director of the Institute of Prairie Archaeology at the University of Alberta, some 20 students will work until mid-June learning about field excavation and receiving their archaeology field certification. Open House Following the field work, which is expected to take about five weeks to complete, there Learn more about our operations and upcoming projects! will be a period of interpretation, and documentation of the site findings by the students. September 16, 2010 Keephills Community Hall Once complete, the archeological reports will be shared with the Paul First Nation and 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm 15A-51515 Rge Rd 32A TransAlta, and the artifacts will eventually find a permanent home at the Alberta Provincial Museum.

Project Pioneer: How Will it Work?

Project Pioneer is among the world’s In enhanced oil largest fully-integrated carbon recovery (EOR) capture and storage (CCS) initiatives the pipeline safely and efficiently in the power sector. TransAlta has transports partnered with industry leaders for liquefied CO to 2 Project Pioneer which aims to reduce enhanced oil recovery wells approximately 1 million tonnes of where it is CO2 emissions per year – the annual injected into equivalent of taking 160,000 cars off selected well sites to stimulate the road. further production Preliminary environmental, engineering and design work of oil from existing for this project is underway and recently representatives oil fields. Injection have been out in the community discussing the proposed of CO2 into Project Pioneer CO2 transportation pipeline for enhanced maturing oilfields oil recovery (EOR) in the Pembina Oilfield. increases oil production and at On September 16, 2010 at TransAlta’s open house for the the same time Lake Wabamum community, the project team will be provides a available to provide information and respond to questions significant about Project Pioneer, CCS, EOR and our upcoming environmental consultation program. This open house will be the first of benefit as it many opportunities to provide feedback on the project permanently plan leading up to our application to the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board expected in August 2011. stores CO2 underground, Further information about the project or upcoming events rather than can be found at projectpioneer.ca or by emailing info@ CCS is a safe, tested and effective technology to prevent greenhouse emitting into the projectpioneer.ca. gases from entering the atmosphere. A number of projects have already atmosphere. demonstrated that with proper site selection, design and management, CO2 can be successfully stored for many years.

Building community connections

Town Hall meeting provides dialogue for Lake Wabamum community On July 7, 2010 TransAlta hosted approximately 40 members of the Lake Wabamum community to share information and address concerns about the Highvale Mine. Located about 70 kilometres west of , the Highvale Mine is one of three TransAlta-owned New Dragline Walks Off the Pad at surface coal mines. Increased mining activity in the northwest area of the mine over the last year Highvale Mine prompted TransAlta to hold a town hall meeting. On June 1, 2010 one of the largest draglines in the world have an expected operating life of 40 years. They walk by Local area residents were provided the opportunity walked off the pad after three years of engineering and using two large ‘feet’ or pontoons which move the to share their concerns and suggestions, and learn construction work to finalize testing before it goes into dragline backwards a little over two metres with each more about mining operations.“Since the meeting operations at the Highvale mine. step at a rate of about 183 metres per hour. TransAlta has been working with the community to address questions raised about future plans for the The 28 storey, 7,257 metric tonne (16 million pound) “Draglines are primarily used to remove the overburden, mine, as well as concerns raised about dust and machine, built by Bucyrus, is uniquely designed to meet or the soil and rock, above the coal seam. The long boom noise,” explained stakeholder relations manager the needs of the Highvale mine conditions and will begin allows for a longer swath of overburden to be taken each Ralph Leriger. work in Pit 7 over the next few weeks before eventually pass making draglines very efficient for what they are moving to Pit 8. designed for,” explained Jerome Campbell, dragline “We greatly appreciated that members of the project manager. “When in full operation, this dragline This new asset will help meet the coal needs of Keephills community took the time to attend the meeting,” will be able to scoop enough overburden to fill 11 regular and Sundance once Keephills 3 begins full operations. explained Leriger. “We have and will be developing dump trucks, swing to the side to dump its load and “This dragline incorporates the latest technologies, such some action plans based on feedback we received return to centre, every 45 seconds,” adds Campbell. at the meeting and will be following-up with some as AC drives, giving it the lowest operating costs and solutions over the next few months.” lowest delivery costs per tonne of coal to our sites,” said The local Paul Band school students were asked to name John Grayson, manager of mining in Alberta. Lower the new and impressive machine. The winning entry was If you were unable to attend the meeting, but are manufacturing costs per kilowatt allow us to be more Misikitew (mi-SIK-i-too) which is a Cree word meaning interested in receiving updates please contact Andy competitive in the market. “the big one.” The top three winning entries received gift Bialowas at 780-731-6000 (extension 4244) certificates. To thank the school for their participation, Draglines are the largest single-bucket excavators built or andrew_bialowas @transalta.com. TransAlta donated $1,500 for helmets to help meet the today. They are the primary excavating tool used in many safety requirements of their physical education skating surface mining operations. These highly productive program and a stipend for an end-of-year school party at machines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre.

Project Pioneer Timeline

2010 2011 2012 2013-2014 2015 First phase of design Detailed engineering On-site construction Construction slated for Pioneer is fully work completed complete begins completion operational

Public & Regulatory Permitting initiated Public & Regulatory One megatonne of CO2 consultation Public & Regulatory consultation captured = 20 per Sequestration site consultation cent of Alberta’s target selected Initial pipeline routing confirmed Initiation of knowledge transfer activities

Enbridge joins Pioneer

1.7 km

www.transalta.com Building community connections

survival of this species, increasing the nesting colony area of what is western Canada’s Report on Sustainability: Habitat largest Grebe habitat. In 2008, TransAlta partnered with Lewis County in Washington to construct three fish Preservation and Enhancement passage enhancements on two waterways. Part of TransAlta’s operating permits to 2009 Report on Sustainability In the coming issues of Kilowatt mitigate impact to area wetlands resulting from mining activities, final restoration of the Connection, we will be highlighting key sites was completed in 2009. This project resulted in the establishment of about 15 The achievements from our 2009 Report on kilometres of salmon spawning habitat. greening Sustainability, published June 1, 2010. To of power generation. view the Report, please visit: transalta. com/sustainability TransAlta in Your Community At TransAlta, we are proud of our history Celebrating our history in Wabamun as a leader in providing reliable power and While a chapter in the Village of Wabamun’s history closed when TransAlta retired the of our track record in helping develop Wabamun power station this past April, our investment in the community continues. solutions to limit the environmental impact of generating that power. One of our Fifty acres of land and $50,000 were donated to the Village of Wabamun. The land will mitigation strategies involves habitat be used for recreational, residential and commercial purposes along the lakefront. preservation and enhancement. Although Recreational elements will include the expansion of a multi-use trail system and the we use water to generate electricity, we money will be invested in the popular Waterfront Park. These donations will help people recognize that long term sustainability of enjoy what the community has to offer, be active outdoors and connect with the waterways not only benefits the environment. environment and aquatic ecosystems, it is TransAlta’s full 2009 Report on sustainability also essential for our operations. Supporting Fringe festival strengthens can now be found on our website. communities’ fabric TransAlta works closely with government and environmental organizations to develop innovative strategies for habitat preservation TransAlta is proud to continue sponsoring the and enhancement. For instance, in 2009 as part of a maintenance project at our Cascade Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, Hydro Facility within Banff National Park, we worked closely with Parks Canada and which runs from August 12 to 22 this year. Fisheries and Oceans Canada to develop a plan to offset potential fish habitat loss that With its incredible mix of live theatre, street may have occurred during previous maintenance. “This habitat compensation project entertainment and even food, the Fringe offers resulted in three areas of fish and benthic invertebrate habitat enhancement. All work was something for everyone and is a true cultural completed by hand and walk-in access to minimize any additional environmental experience that energizes the spirit. The festival impacts”, explained TransAlta environmental specialist James Guthrie. brings international artists to the city and Earlier this year, as part of the Wabamun surrounding communities including our decommissioning project, TransAlta neighbours in , Stony Plain and donated 19 acres of land, adjacent to the the Wabamun Lake area. And with the tagline, Wabamun water inlet channel, to the “We’ll show you ours” this year’s Fringe Festival Alberta Fish and Game Association will present another unforgettable event. Wildlife Trust Fund. TransAlta’s donated TransAlta’s support of The Fringe is acreage is adjacent to land currently longstanding and based on our belief that the protected by the Wildlife Trust Fund that, arts enrich lives and create healthy along with other wetland residents, is a communities. Since 1998, we have supported unique breeding habitat for the eared and the Society’s annual Fringe Festival, the western Grebe population in the area. TransAlta Family Theatre Series and the These Grebes, particularly the western TransAlta Arts Barn. Each element of this Grebe, are considered to have a partnership plays an important role in providing precarious future and their survival diverse, community-based art platforms for all depends on factors including habitat TransAlta Chief Operating Officer Dawn Farrell with Brad Fenson from the Wildlife Trust Fund. to enjoy. protection and conservation. TransAlta’s donation will help contribute to the 100 Years, 100 People The good old days On October 20, 2009 TransAlta celebrated the 100th anniversary of its incorporation. Originally known as the Power Company, the company produced its first megawatt of electricity on May 21, 1911 when the Horseshoe hydroelectric plant was commissioned. Throughout all these years, TransAlta has benefitted from the dedication and passion of its employees. To recognize their efforts and celebrate their contributions, TransAlta will be recounting Years the stories of past and current employees who built and shaped our company to what it is today. 1940 – 1949: War, 1950 – 1959: Rural 1960 – 1969: The fire and new electrification boom years beginnings begins Happy Hansen – Darrel Ernie MacLeod – was born Gordon McKenzie - was Hansen, best known by his in High River, Alberta. He born and raised in Nanton, friends and coworkers as received his engineering Alberta. As a young man “Happy” was born in education at the University he served three years in Lemars, Iowa in 1904. His of Alberta. In 1939, the Canadian Navy on family moved to Canada Macleod joined the team minesweeping duty as well when he was only three at Calgary Power as a as being a convoy escort. months old, settling in the floorman at the Ghost He started at Calgary town of Barons, south of plant. His starting salary was C$70 Cdn a month. In 1939, Power as a clerk in the Commercial department in 1946. Calgary. two prisoner-of-war camps were established near Seebe His job was focused on rate comparisons. McKenzie was After graduating in 1928 as an electrical engineer, to hold German and Italian soldiers. The Canadian Army also passionate about rural electrification and worked for Hansen started his lengthy career with Calgary Power. issued handguns and rifles to Calgary Power employees, years developing further opportunities to provide His fist job in the company was in the Engineering including Macleod, should they have to defend electrical services to rural areas in Alberta. Gordon was Department. It was here where he became one of the themselves or the installations against escaped prisoners. also involved with the electrification of oil field services in company’s early customer representatives. As time Then, in 1940, MacLeod joined the Canadian Navy and 1947 because earlier that year, the Alberta economy had passed, Hansen was promoted several times. In 1957, he went to war. He returned in 1946 to work again at Seebe. received a tremendous boost when oil was discovered in became responsible for all power sales, industrial This time, he worked in rural electrification. Leduc. Calgary Power supplied much of the needed development, rates and franchises. With his expertise, electricity for pipeline pumping installations, oil refineries, MacLeod retired in 1977 after 38 years with Calgary Power. the company was able to double the sales and the and natural gas processing plants. distribution of electrical energy across the province. Visit TransAlta’s website every month to learn about other people who have helped build In 1969 after 41 years with Calgary Power, Hansen retired and shape our company of today as executive assistant, Commercial and Marketing.

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