The Project | Consultation | Regulatory

The Demand

A number of new wind farms are planned for southwest Alberta, and this renewable power needs to be able to get to homes, farms and businesses across the province. AltaLink’s approved Southwest 240 kV Transmission Project will connect the abundant amount of wind power in southwest Alberta to the electricity grid through a new transmission line connecting Pincher Creek and Lethbridge.

The Challenges

The Alberta Electric System Operator, a not-for-profit entity responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System,  is forecasting many new wind generation projects to be in operation in Alberta in the upcoming years. A reliable transmission system is needed to allow all the planned wind projects unrestricted access to the grid.

The Solution

The Southwest Alberta 240 kV Project will connect the renewable wind energy in the region to the electricity system, allowing all Albertans access to green power.

AltaLink considered several factors when determining its preferred route, and selected it because it is the shortest and lowest cost route, has no significant environmental impacts and affects the least number of landowners. The transmission line will cross both Piikani and Blood Tribe lands, and both bands have the opportunity to have part ownership of the facilities on their lands and earn a fixed rate of return on these transmission assets.

AltaLink is also working to mitigate the concerns of the City of Lethbridge for the portion of the line in the Oldman River Valley, and is proposing a different type of tower in this location to reduce the visual impact.