Alberta Utilities Commission seeks public feedback on Lomond wind project

The Buffalo Plains Wind Project in Lomond, Alta., is in a new phase of planning and now awaits public consultation and approval by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC).

A number of people in the Lomond area have spoken up about concerns with the proposed project in the last year. Some have created Facebook groups to share research on possible negative impacts.

“Controversy around applications that we are considering is not a new thing for the Alberta Utilities Commission,” AUC spokesperson Geoff Scotton said Tuesday.

“At the same time, we have a role as a provincial regulator to examine those applications and — using a public interest lens — determine whether or not the project is in the public interest of the province of Alberta, bearing in mind legislation.”

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Scotton says the AUC is interested in hearing concerns like these as part of its community feedback process this month.

An information session and Q&A will be offered on Feb. 16 and 17. Feedback will then be accepted until Feb. 24.

A statement from the company ABO Wind on the proposed project said in part:

“…If approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission, the project will represent more than $500 million investment and demonstrates Alberta’s continued attractiveness to international companies.

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“The project will create more than 300 jobs during construction and approximately 15 long-term maintenance jobs during operation and contribute several million dollars in annual property tax payments to Vulcan County…”

ABO Wind says it’s the largest single-phase wind project proposed in Canada and would offset more than 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent to removing more than 130,000 passenger vehicles.

ABO Wind expects to receive a response from the AUC by this summer.

If approved, ABO Wind officials hope to start construction in 2022 and be fully operational by the end of 2023.