PROJECT SUMMARY

UPDATE: In February 2023, the MD of Willow Creek Council approved changes to their Land Use Bylaw that impacts the location of proposed collection lines associated with this Project.  As a result of this, the applicant has revised the Project layout to relocate collection lines. This update has been provided to landowners within the consultation radius via a mailout sent on June 26, 2023. See additional information below.

On February 22, 2023, the MD of Willow Creek (MD) Council approved changes to Land Use Bylaw (LUB) No. 1826, Schedule 11 (Bylaw 1943). The changes now require collector or transmission lines, for wind energy systems, to be located on private land, and not within developed or undeveloped municipal road allowances. As a result of the LUB changes, SPWC (the Project applicant) has revised the collection network to reduce dependence on municipal road allowances. No change is proposed to the location or number of turbines.

SPWC has revised the footprint to meet the requirements of the LUB. During this process, the Project was put on hold with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), while SPWC considered how the LUB changes would affect the development. Minor revisions have been made to the Project footprint as result and are identified in the Project Details Map. The regulatory application process will resume following completion of stakeholder engagement, and review of environmental considerations. In addition, SPWC is updating seasonal environmental surveys to support the application to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.

SPWC now forecasts that, pending regulatory approval, construction of the Project could occur as early as July 1, 2024; construction completion and the proposed “in service” or “commercial operations” date has not changed.

MilestonePrevious Schedule
(November 15, 2022)		AUC Confirmed
Schedule
(March 30, 2022)		Revised
Schedule
(Current)
Application to the AUCDecember 2022December 2022Submitted (in Abeyance)
Application to the
MD of Willow Creek		2023, following application
submission to the AUC,
and prior to the AUC
issuing a decision.		Summer 2023Spring 2024
(Following AUC Decision)
Construction Start Date2024January 1, 2024As early as July 1, 2024
In-Service / Commercial Operations DateMid 2025December 31, 2025December 31, 2025
(No Change)
Construction Completion Date (inclusive of reclamation)2025
(excluding reclamation)		May 31, 2026May 31, 2026
(No Change)
Operation2025-2050
25 years with the potential for
extension of the Project life through the replacement or updating of
key equipment, as required –
subject to regulatory approval.		–2025-2050 
25 years with the potential for extension of the Project life through the replacement
or updating of key equipment, as required – subject to regulatory approval.
Proposed Project Schedule (Subject to change)

This website will be updated as new Project information becomes available.

UPDATE: In December 2022, SPWC confirmed the wind turbine that was planned for the Willow Ridge Wind Project has been replaced by the supplier. As a result of this, the wind turbine identified in the Project Notification Package, mailed by SPWC on November 15, 2022, will be replaced by the supplier with a new wind turbine model. See additional information below.

The Willow Ridge Wind Project (the “Project”), is proposed by SPWC Development GP Inc. (SPWC). If approved, the Project would include the construction and operation of a wind-powered electrical energy generation facility.

The Project area, proposed wind turbines, and related infrastructure are illustrated on the Project Details Map. The Project is located on private land within the Municipal District (MD) of Willow Creek, approximately 7.2 km south of Fort MacLeod on both sides of Highway 2, between the Kainai Nation (Blood Reserve 148) and Piikani Nation.

Following public engagement conducted in Spring 2022, and subsequent discussion with area landowners and stakeholders, the Project was reduced in size and scope. These changes include:

  • Elimination of three turbines (i.e., turbines T10, T31 and T33);
  • Relocation of three turbines (i.e., turbines T25, T32 and T35);
  • Elimination of two Meteorological Towers;
  • Relocation of one Meteorological Tower; and
  • Corresponding amendments to access roads and collection lines.

As a result of these changes, the nameplate generation capacity for the Project has been reduced, and the overall footprint of disturbance decreased from the previously anticipated footprint. The Project now includes 31 wind turbines spread over approximately 200 acres of land and has a nameplate capacity of 204.6 MW, which is enough to power approximately 60,000 households.

Additional infrastructure required for the construction and operation of the Project includes:

  • Turbine pad sites;
  • One meteorological tower;
  • Battery Energy Storage System (BESS);
  • Access roads;
  • Below ground collection lines;
  • Grid tie-in transmission line (between 100 – 200 metres in length);
  • Temporary construction laydown yard (storage of equipment, vehicles, contractor staging); and
  • An operations and maintenance building.

SPWC is undergoing preparation of its regulatory approval applications the Alberta Utilities Commission, anticipated to be submitted in 2022. Permitting applications to the M.D. of Willow Creek are anticipated to be submitted for review in Spring/Summer 2023. If approved, construction is anticipated to start in 2024, and the Project would begin operation in 2025.

This website will be updated as new Project information becomes available.

Will the wind turbine look different?
The wind turbine will look the same. The main difference between the wind turbine models are the internal parts.

Will the height of the wind turbine change?
The height of the new wind turbine model will remain the same as the wind turbine model that has been discussed with stakeholders.

Will the Project layout change?
The Project layout will remain the same.

Will this wind turbine model create different environmental affects?
The wind turbines will be located the same distance from homes and sensitive environmental features as originally planned, so there is no anticipated change in this regard.

Will the wind turbines change the assessed shadow flicker for my residence?
The shadow flicker will not change with this wind turbine model.

Will this wind turbine model make more noise?
Updated noise modelling has been completed using the new wind turbine model. The noise created by this wind turbine model will be very similar to what has been discussed with stakeholders. The Project remains within acceptable noise limits established by the Alberta Utilities Commission.

Will this wind turbine model produce more energy?
Yes, the new wind turbine model is more efficient. The original wind turbine model was the Siemens Gamesa SGRE 6.2-170, which could produce up to 192.2 MW. The original wind turbine model will be replaced with the Siemens Gamesa SGRE 6.6-170, with a nameplate generation capacity of 204.6 MW.