Arrival of Turbine Components for Grizzly Bear Creek Wind Project Begin

Arrival of Turbine Components for Grizzly Bear Creek Wind Project Begin

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Deliveries of turbine components for the Grizzly Bear Creek Wind Project are just getting underway, so motorists can expect to see huge convoys on area highways over the next two months.

“Construction teams are making significant progress on the Grizzly Bear Creek wind project in the counties of Minburn and Vermilion River. On August 2, the construction process will enter a new stage as turbine components are delivered to site,” stated Matt Epting, Senior Media and Public Relations Manager for Enel North America.

Epting said, “There are a few things we want to make the public aware of during the delivery process:

• Turbines will be delivered throughout August and into late September. We anticipate roughly 11 components per day entering the project area off of Highway 881.

• Main turbine components will be escorted by separate vehicles equipped with beacon lights while traveling on provincial roads and local roads. Escort vehicles will provide required supporting and safety functions per federal and/or provincial requirements.

• Road closures are not foreseen during delivery except in extraordinary cases involving particularly difficult turns on county roads. Any temporary closures will follow provincial and local regulations.

• Flaggers will be present during critical intersection maneuvers or in case of traffic stops.

• We will strive to optimize congestion to reduce disruption during harvest season in late summer.

Delivery convoy to Castle Rock Ridge II Wind Farm near Pincher Creek in 2019.

(Enel North America/Submitted Photo)

We apologize for any inconvenience this process may cause, and we deeply appreciate your patience and cooperation. Our first priority in coordinating turbine component delivery is the safety of the community and our workers.”

According to the company, Grizzly Bear Creek is a 152-megawatt project which will consist of 34 turbines that are expected to generate 528 GWH of energy each year, enough to avoid 343,000 tons of CO2 emissions and meet the electricity needs of over 73,000 Alberta households annually. Energy from the plant will be sold on a merchant basis into Alberta’s electricity market.

The project is expected to create about seven full-time, permanent jobs for operations and maintenance. Grizzly Bear Creek represents a reliable longterm economic stimulus for the counties of Minburn and Vermilion River. Over the project’s 30-year lifetime it will pay landowners for the use of their lands and generate over $80 million in local tax revenues.