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(PACE Canada LP)
$60-70M idea

47-megawatt solar power project proposed near Joffre

Oct 23, 2020 | 1:59 PM

A 47-megawatt solar power project is proposed near the Joffre petrochemical complex.

Joffre Solar Park is being proposed by PACE Canada LP, a joint venture partnership between SWITCH Power Corporation, an Alberta-based Independent Power Producer, and Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE), a global clean energy development and investment company.

Claude Mindorff, VP of Business Development and Project Origination with SWITCH Power Corporation, says the objective is to build a community-based solar project to supply clean, renewable energy to Alberta’s energy grid.

“The location is currently a grazing lease roughly 148 acres in size,” he explains. “What it’s going to look like when it’s finished is a field of blue-tinged glass facing south. This project backs right up against the western fence of Joffre – the Nova facility.”

Officials say Joffre Solar Park is expected to have an over 30 year life span and provide in the range of 1,410 gigawatt hours of electricity during that time.

“Right now we’re about midway through the project design and study stage,” says Mindorff. “We’re following a pretty prescriptive course of events that is described by the AUC (Alberta Utilities Commission) under rule 007, which asks developers and proponents of any kind of energy facility to go through a process of public consultation where all the cumulative impacts of building a solar facility on this particular site are studied, and then that information is released to the public.”

Following further public feedback, Mindorff says the AUC would then make a ruling on granting a license to build and operate the facility. Development permit and building permit approvals from Lacombe County would also be required.

“After two years of studies, what we’ve found is this site is a very low potential impact to cause some form of degradation to the natural values,” adds Mindorff. “No development is without impact. The best that you can hope for is to get that ‘Low’ rating.”

Moving forward, Mindorff anticipates a continued growing need for solar energy in Alberta.

“Oil and gas continues to increase its consumption of electricity. The oil sands are looking at using greater amounts of electricity to create oil sands production through electromagnetic radiation,” he suggests. “Everyone is looking to use electricity as a mode of force, including the transportation sectors. So if you can create the energy source from low-impact renewables, then you’re reducing the overall carbon that we all contribute to in our daily lives.”

Officials say the power generated from this $60-$70 million project would be sold to a client through the Fortis Alberta grid where it will then be transmitted to the province’s end users.

“The first phase is 22 megawatts and the second phase is 25 megawatts,” notes Mindorff. “And the nice thing about this site is that we are literally within half a kilometre of the substation.”

If all approvals are received, Mindorff anticipates between 30-60 construction jobs to be created, along with three full-time positions once complete. He says construction would start by early next summer, with the Joffre Solar Park operational by Dec. 31, 2021.

Lacombe County would also stand to benefit from $200,000 – $300,000 worth of property tax generated by the project each year, according to Mindorff.

The Pathfinder Clean Energy and SWITCH Power partnership is also jointly developing three other solar power projects in Alberta totaling 78-megawatts.

They include a 13-megawatt project in Hanna, nine megawatt project in Caroline, and six megawatt project in Youngstown.

(NOTE: A virtual open house for the Joffre Solar Park project is happening from 2-4 p.m. today – Fri. Oct. 23. More info here.)