Central East Transfer out Transmission Project
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PROJECT UPDATE PROJECT June 2019 CENTRAL EAST TRANSFER OUT TRANSMISSION PROJECT In January 2019, ATCO Electric Ltd. (ATCO) distributed project information about the Central East Transfer Out Transmission Project to landholders Project Details in the vicinity of the planned transmission line and invited feedback on our preliminary routes. We also held a series of open houses in February ATCO Electric Ltd. (ATCO) and AltaLink were for people to learn more about the Project. both directed by the Alberta Electric System Since then, we have been meeting with landholders in the vicinity of the Operator (AESO) to develop portions of the routes under consideration. Central East Transfer Out Transmission Project. To date, we have had over 500 conversations with landholders about the ATCO is proposing to add two staged Project. We would like to thank everyone who provided their feedback. 240-kilovolt transmission lines between the existing Tinchebray substation near the Village of Halkirk and the service territory boundary near the Village of Alix and the Village of Nevis. Routing Update This is to reinforce and upgrade the transfer out capability of the transmission system in The input we received during the first round of consultation has been the central east area to the rest of Alberta’s compiled and examined. This input has been used in combination with Interconnected Electric System. other available information to refine the route options and reduce the overall impact of the transmission line. An updated Reference Map ATCO will also require alterations to the showing the selected routes is enclosed. existing Tinchebray 972S substation. In ATCO’s service territory, the total line length will be You continue to have the opportunity to provide your input on the approximately 160 kilometres (km) long. Project. Please contact us at 1 855 420 5775 to share your thoughts. If you received this package in the mail, updated Route Mosaic Maps are enclosed showing the selected route options in relation to your property. Rejected options — routes no longer considered — are also Next Steps shown. Selected Route Mosaic Maps for the entire length of the Project We are in the process of providing additional are available at www.ATCO.com (click on “Projects”) or can be mailed details on the updated selected routes and on to you upon request. the typical structure being considered for the Project. Route refinements at this stage will typically involve localized adjustments to the line location in response to site-specific concerns and constraints. For more information on route selection, please see the inside of this newsletter. Selected Routes Your Input In this Project Update, you will find information on the All transmission line projects have impacts. Some can be routes selected for further consideration. The Update also mitigated while others cannot. Our goal is to find the location contains information on the routes that have been removed for the transmission line that will have the least overall impact, from consideration. Stakeholder consultation efforts did however, we recognize that there are impacts cannot be identify a few new route segments that have been added for mitigated. Your input is very important when making these consideration. The routes are shown on the ATCO Reference decisions. Map. ATCO and AltaLink coordinated our selected routes at the The top concerns raised include: service territory boundary to ensure alignment. • Agricultural operations impacts Several routes are shown on the maps, however only one route • Following existing developments will be constructed. • Visual impacts • Proximity to residences Additionally, concerns related to wildfires and crop diseases If you are not in the direct vicinity of the have also been identified. selected routes, you will not be contacted during our second round of personal consultations. Please If you have any further input to provide or require further check the enclosed maps to verify the location of information, please contact us. your property in relation to the selected routes. During consultation conversations there were inquiries about an opportunity to re-use existing 9L20 transmission Parties on rejected routes will be removed from our line structures for this Project. ATCO evaluated the existing project mailing list unless they request otherwise. transmission line; unfortunately, those existing structures are not able to support the additional conductor wires required for this Project. Stakeholders also inquired if other existing substations could be considered for the eastern termination for this Project. ATCO is working with the AESO to re-assess feasibility. If a different eastern termination is considered we will update Route Selection stakeholders with more information. The selected routes were chosen based on consultation Whenever possible, consideration is given to routing new feedback and combined with other available information transmission lines along existing linear features, such as quarter to refine the route options in an effort to reduce potential section lines, roads, and other powerlines. impacts. In some locations, preliminary route options were The consultation process for this project is ongoing. That dropped from further consideration. In other locations, new means we have yet to determine the preferred route for the options were developed as a result of your feedback. transmission line, and in some areas we may decide to propose Consultation feedback is not the only factor that must be both preferred and alternative route options to the AUC in our considered during the route selection process. We must also application. Although multiple route options may be proposed, consider a range of important factors, including proximity only one route will be built. to residences, environmentally sensitive areas, wetlands, Project updates are available at existing infrastructure (such as other transmission lines, roads, www.ATCO.com (click on “Projects”). Please contact us if well sites and pipelines), planned developments, agricultural you have questions, concerns or would like to request a operations, visual factors and construction requirements. personal consultation. THE SCHEDULE We begin sharing We gather your input. ATCO submits an The AUC reviews If approved, information about the Based on this input and application to the the application by way construction of project to determine other factors, route AUC to build the of a public process. the new facility the best options. option(s) are selected. proposed facility. begins. PUBLIC CONSULTATION is a continuous process that occurs throughout the life of the project. Project Update The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) manages the AESO has continued to monitor the need in the area and the Alberta electric system and has identified the need for this possibility that generation milestones can change over time. Project to enhance the reliability of the transmission system in As a result, they have now asked us to consider including two the area. When we started consulting on this Project in January potential options in the application that we file for this Project. 2019, it was proposed to be staged to align with generation Option 1 aligns with the generation milestones already milestones in the area so that additional transmission capacity identified as 2023 for the first circuit and 2027-2029 for the is built as generation targets are met. The AESO initially asked second circuit. Option 2 plans for the scenario that the first ATCO to plan for two new circuits, with one needed by 2023 circuit is still needed as early as 2023 but the need for the and the second by 2027-2029. second circuit is delayed beyond 2029. In this circumstance, We included our proposed options to meet this need in the the second circuit would be filed in the future as a standalone newsletter that we mailed in January 2019. Since then, the Facility Application. FIRST STAGE SECOND STAGE PROPOSED SOLUTION (BY 2023) (BY 2027-2029) Option 1 One double circuit transmission One line built but only The second circuit will be line one circuit will be energized Originally included energized in this project Selected to move forward Two single circuit transmission One line built The second line will be built on an lines – parallel alignments alignment parallel to the first line Removed from consideration Option 2 One single circuit transmission One line built The second circuit (delayed New line beyond 2029) would be filed in the future as a stand-alone New proposed option Facility Application Option 1 — Originally included in this project Option 2 — New Based on stakeholder feedback, engineering, field studies and We were able to use the information gathered so far on a cost analysis we determined that the lowest overall impact this Project to help us determine our proposed routes and way to meet the need for this option is with one double circuit structure types to address the first stage of this scenario. transmission line instead of two single circuit transmission ATCO plans to use single circuit wood H-Frame structure in lines. When compared to the two single circuit options, the this scenario and would use the same proposed alignments as double circuit option had greater stakeholder support as it the double circuit structures proposed for Option 1. minimizes the footprint of the project and the disturbance On the following pages you will find details about the routes associated with building two separate lines. and structures