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7, No. 37November Tuesday, July 17, 2012 Vol. 7, No. Vol. 2, Tuesday, 8, 2011
Oh those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!
MICHELLE PINON PHOTOS
The spray park in Lamont was the place to be this past week as temperatures hovered just above and below the 30 degree celsius mark. Finding relief from the scorching hot sun was 10-year-old Brandon Wipft,(left), and his younger brother Ryan, 6, (far right in striped shirt),along with many other youngsters.
Maxim Power sparks $200 million project Michelle Pinon Editor
Maxim Power is planning to build a $200 million power plant near Bruderheim. According to Glenn Brisson, a corporate development representative with the Calgary based company, they plan to construct a natural gas fired peaking power generation facility six kilometres northeast of the community. “We plan to be operational by 2014,” stated Brisson. Maxim recently shared its plans during an open house in Bruderheim. Brisson said around 16 people attend-
ed the information sharing event. Maxim has received regulatory approvals to construct and operate a four unit configuration to produce 190 megawatts of incremental generation at an estimated capital cost of $200 million. The proposed Deerland Peaking Station will be located near existing electrical infrastructure, and will help address Alberta’s growing power needs, particularly in times of peak electricity demand. Brisson said the plant will not operate all the time, but will help “fill in
the gaps,” and provide rapid response when there are sudden interruptions and at peak demand times during the “electricity rush hour.” Maxim expects the station to operate approximately 1,200 to 2,500 hours per year to meet growing demand. The company has already received permits for the construction and operation of the proposed plant, and will be submitting application for a development permit with Lamont County shortly, added Brisson. “Once they’ve submitted their development
plan and receive a development permit from the county, they will be able to begin construction,” said Garret Matteotti, manager of economic development and strategic initiatives for Lamont County. “They’re looking to do site preparation work this summer, with construction peaking during the summer of 2013. Maxim is planning to be fully operational in the spring of 2014. During the construction phase, the Deerland Peaking Station will create between 125 and 150 jobs,” said Matteotti. “Maxim will also be
funding infrastructure upgrades which will make the area more appealing for future industrial development. Aside from expansions at existing operations already in the county, this is the first greenfield development Lamont County has seen in a number of years, and is a positive addition to the community and our tax base. “Through the Lamont County Regional Economic Development Initiative (LCREDI), a portion of the tax dollars received from Maxim’s Deerland Peaking station will be shared with the
towns of Bruderheim, Lamont and Mundare, and the villages of Andrew and Chipman,” added Matteotti. “Lamont County is seeing more and more interest in its portion of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and we expect Maxim Power will work as a catalyst to attract other developments,” added Matteotti. Maxim Power Corp. is an independent power producer which currently owns and operates 40 power plants in western Canada, the United States and France, and trades on the TSX under the symbol MXG.