Features
  • Western Alberta Transmission Line

The Project

Find your property using our interactive map

The map above shows only a high-level view of the routes. Please click on the link above for a more detailed view or download our maps below.

Updated February 7, 2011 

We have identified preferred and alternate routes for the proposed Western Alberta Transmission Line. We also identified optional segments to the preferred and alternate routes (called optional route segments) shown in various colours in the map above.

Since January 2010 we've had more than 4,500 discussions with stakeholders through open houses, information centres, one-on-one consultations, phone calls and written correspondence. Your input has been critical in our route selection process. We realize this project has required a lot of stakeholder participation and we appreciate your time.

Preferred Route

The preferred route parallels 220 kilometres of existing transmission lines west of Highway 2. This route:

  • is approximately 350 kilometres long
  • has a low environmental impact
  • crosses less cultivated land than the alternate route
  • has a low number of residences within 150 metres
  • aligns with policies that encourage consolidation of facilities (i.e. paralleling)

Alternate Route

The alternate route parallels 50 kilometres of existing transmission lines east of Highway 2. This route:

  • is approximately 350 kilometres long
  • has a higher environmental impact than the preferred route
  • crosses more cultivated land than the preferred route
  • has a low number of residences within 150 metres

For more information about the preferred and alternate routes as well as the optional route segments, please read the information below.



Details

Updated May 10, 2011 

The proposed Western Alberta Transmission Line project:

  • Is a 500 kV (500,000 volts) line.
  • Will be built between the Genesee and Langdon areas.
  • Will include a converter station at each end of the line that changes electricity from DC to Alternating Current (AC), so the DC line can connect with the rest of the province's AC system.

Direct Current technology

A Direct Current (DC) line is different from a traditional Alternating Current (AC) line because the current continually flows in the same direction, similar to the current in a flashlight or automobile battery. DC lines are new to Alberta but are in operation in Manitoba, Québec and many other parts of the world.

DC lines:

  • Can transport large amounts of power more efficiently than AC lines.
  • Have smaller structures than the majority of 500 kV AC lines.
  • Are scalable, meaning the amount of power the line is able to carry can be increased by adding equipment at each end of the line.

For more information about DC lines, please read the Facts about Direct Current Transmission Lines.

Structure Types

Updated October 18, 2011  

We are proposing lattice structures for this project because they are the most economic solution. We studied the feasibility of using tubular structures and gathered feedback from stakeholders about this option during our consultation program.

Tubular structures are typically used in areas of high residential density. While we are not recommending tubular structures for this project, we will include information about them in our application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC).

Lattice
Download full resolution lattice structure image

Project Schedule

Activities Completed

Winter/Spring 2010 First stage of consultation - included open houses, information centres and one-on-one consultation as requested by stakeholders.
Spring 2010 Used stakeholder feedback to refine potential routes.
Summer/Fall 2010 Second stage of consultation - included open houses, information centres and one-on-one consultation with stakeholders who have property or reside on or directly adjacent to the refined route options.
Fall 2010 Used stakeholder feedback to help us identify preferred and alternate route options.
December 2010 Notified stakeholders of preferred and alternate routes.
March 2011 Filed application with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC).
Spring 2011 Land negotiation along the preferred route began.
Activities Planned
Spring 2011 to Spring 2012 AUC process: the AUC will review our application for completeness, schedule and notify stakeholders of the project hearing, conduct the hearing and can either approve, approve with conditions or deny the application.
*Summer 2012 Anticipated construction start date, pending the AUC decision.
*Fall 2014 Anticipated construction completion date, pending the AUC decision.

*These steps will only occur if our Facilities Application is approved by the AUC. If the AUC approves the project, we will continue to communicate and consult with stakeholders beyond the application process into the construction stage.



Newsletters and Brochures

Updated May 8, 2012 

March 2012 updates 

March 2011 updates

February 2011 Stakeholder Information package

January 2011 mail outs

We mailed several information packages in January 2011 to stakeholders in specific areas along the proposed project to gather their input about key project details. The information packages are about converter stations and telecommunications towers, communications system (repeater stations), Red Deer River crossing structures and Access trails.

If any of these project components are proposed on or near your property, you will have received the information packages that include detailed maps. The overview of the information is below.

Langdon converter station and telecommunications tower

Genesee converter station and telecommunications tower

Communications system (repeater stations)

Red Deer River crossing

Access Trails

Preferred and alternate announcement - December 2010

Thank you newsletter - October 2010

August/September 2010 open house information

July 2010 Stakeholder Information package

Thank you newsletter - April 2010

*Please note in this newsletter that was mailed to stakeholders the last part of the last sentence was missing in the What's next? section on the back page. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. The full section is below with the missing portion in italics.

What's next?

We will use the input we've received from stakeholders and information from activities such as field work to refine the preliminary route options. Later this year we plan to consult with stakeholders again about the refined route options through open houses, information centres and one-on-one consultations. Prior to the second stage of consultation we will mail a newsletter to stakeholders that will include the refined route options, updated technical details and project cost. We will advertise the open houses in local newspapers.

Winter 2010 open house information

January 2010 Stakeholder Information package

Maps

Updated March 14, 2012 

October 2011 - updated maps

February 2011 - Preferred and alternate routes

December 2010 - Preferred and alternate routes

July 2010

January 2010

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