February 04, 2019

Capital Power in the Community: Whitla Wind Project

Kicking off the new year, Capital Power team members spent time with our Whitla Wind project stakeholders and community investment partners in the County of Forty Mile, Alberta.

Building and strengthening relationships within the communities we are developing projects in and operate in is a priority for Capital Power. We work to ensure that our stakeholders are well informed and have the opportunity to connect with our team members.

Project Updates

Capital Power - Michael Sheehan - Whitla Wind - Foremost - Chamber of Commerce
Michael Sheehan presenting to the Foremost and District Chamber of Commerce.

Capital Power was invited to be the guest speaker at the Foremost and District Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting on January 22, 2019. During construction and throughout operations, the project will provide positive economic impacts to the local community and area businesses. Michael Sheehan, Senior Advisor Indigenous and Stakeholder Engagement, provided an update on construction of the Whitla Wind project to the Chamber. Attendees included local business owners and Lorne Buis, Mayor of the Village of Foremost.

On January 28, 2019, a Whitla Wind project update was presented to the Town of Bow Island Council. Delivering the update was Larry Stubben, Senior Construction Manager, Barry Loewen, Senior Project Manager, and Jerry Bellikka, Director Government Relations. As construction ramps up on the project later this year, this was an opportunity to provide an update so town officials are aware of what to expect in terms of construction activity and associated traffic in the upcoming months. On January 30, 2019, a project update was also shared with the County of Forty Mile Council.

Capital Power hosted a dinner and information session in the Town of Bow Island for landowners associated with the Whitla Wind Project on January 29, 2019. This was an opportunity for landowners to receive a project update, hear directly from the project team on activities planned for this year, and ask questions

Supporting Community Initiatives

Jerry Bellikka - Larry Stubben - Char Brocklesby - Capital Power - Whitla Wind
Jerry Bellikka and Larry Stubben presenting a cheque to Char Brocklesby.

As part of the Whitla Wind project visit, Capital Power representatives connected with some of our local community investment partners. On January 29, 2019, Jerry Bellikka and Larry Stubben presented a cheque to Char Brocklesby, Chair of the Bow Island & District Health Foundation. This contribution was given in support of the important services and programs that health-care facility provides to residents of Bow Island and Forty Mile County.

Capital Power representatives also met with the staff at Foremost School on January 30, 2019, located near the Whitla Wind project. The school visit was a great opportunity for our team members to see firsthand the development of a project that we are supporting. Through the Family Community Support Services (FCSS), we contributed to Foremost School to support their Outdoor Classroom Community Garden.

The project, currently in its early stages with three planters constructed, will be used this spring by the students to plant a variety of fruits and vegetables for the school food program. In addition, there will be Saskatoon bushes and apple trees planted around the area.

Whitla Wind Project

In December 2017, the first 201.6 MW phase of the project was selected for a 20-year contract by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) in the first round of its Renewable Electricity Program (REP). Construction of Phase 1 began in September 2018 and the project is expected to begin commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2019.

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