The Fox Meadows Wind Project (Fox Meadows/the Project) is a 165 MW wind project proposed by ABO Wind Canada Ltd. (ABO Wind).
Fox Meadows would provide a cost-effective source of enough clean energy for approximately 65,000 homes and will contribute to Alberta’s legislated target of 30% renewable energy electricity generation by 2030.
The Project would displace approximately 300,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, which amounts to 7.5 million tonnes of CO2 over 25 years. The Project area was selected due to favourable wind speeds, land topography, grid capacity and supportive landowners. A meteorological tower was erected in the summer of 2022 to confirm the wind resource in the region.
Please join ABO Wind Canada to learn about and discuss the latest updates for our 165 MW renewable wind project located between the towns of Provost and Wainwright, south of Edgerton. Refreshments will be provided.
Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Where: Agricultural Community Hall in Edgerton: 4916 50th Street
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
In December 2022, ABO Wind published updated information on the Fox Meadows project. Download the new brochure here.
On July 15, 2022 our new website Fox Meadows Wind went live. We are happy to answer your questions and hear your feedback!
Project Development Area
The Project Development Area for Fox Meadows has changed since our summer 2022 public notification. Through input received during our ongoing public consultation process, we eliminated the western section of the Project and expanded the eastern portion of the Project to accommodate the 25 proposed wind turbines needed to produce the 165 MW of renewable energy. Current layout designs have utilized the Siemens Gamesa SG-170 6.6 MW wind turbine with a hub height of 115 metres and a blade length of 85 metres. The turbine model is subject to change based on availability.
The updated map highlights the new Project Development Area, resulting in a reduction of approximately 1000 acres from the previous layout. ABO Wind still expects the Project will displace about 300,000 tonnes of CO2 annually and 9 million tonnes of CO2 over a 30-year lifespan.
Battery Storage System
The Project will look to have a battery storage system that will charge from the electric grid or the Project and discharge at peak demand times. The battery storage components will include battery modules, inverters, transformers, and an energy management system. The incorporation of a battery storage system will increase project flexibility and the reliability of the electrical grid. The current size of the proposed battery is 70 MW/216MWh, which will occupy an area of roughly 6 acres.
The battery storage will be placed in close proximity to the Project substation, proposed for the SE of Section 2, Township 42, Range 4, West of the 4th Meridian. The Project substation will contain one step-up transformer that will increase the voltage of the electricity from the Project prior to exporting it to the grid. The substation will also include circuit breakers, and a control building for maintenance of the site. Additional project infrastructure includes access roads, collector lines, and meteorological towers. This is displayed on the brochure map.
Environmental and Additional Studies
During the August 2022, open house, a number of individuals had questions relating to the impact of the Project to birds, wildlife and the environment. Minimizing impact to the environment resulting from the construction and operations of Fox Meadows is at the forefront of Project planning.
ABO Wind retained an independent third-party consultant, Maskwa Environmental Consulting Ltd. (Maskwa), to complete the environmental survey program. The 2022 surveys completed for the proposed Project were:
In review of the survey results and mandated setbacks, ABO Wind sited the proposed Project to further reduce or eliminate environmental impacts, where feasible. Field results from the surveys will be provided to AEPA as part of ABO Wind’s submission of the Renewable Energy Project Submission (REPS) Report. In this submission, AEPA will review the potential impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitat, including wetlands. An overall Project risk ranking will be provided by AEPA in relation to wildlife features, risk to birds, pre-assessment risk to bat mortality and to wildlife and wildlife habitat based on Project siting and commitments made by ABO Wind to monitor and mitigate wildlife impacts. AEPA will assess the project-specific mitigation to be implemented during construction and operations based on the Wildlife Directive for Alberta Wind Energy Projects. Once the review has been concluded, AEPA will issue a Renewable Energy Referral Report (RERR), which will be submitted to the AUC.
Furthermore, ABO Wind must submit a Conservation and Reclamation Plan to the AUC that documents preconstruction soil and vegetation conditions for the proposed Project, interim reclamation activities, proposed operational soil and vegetation monitoring, proposed Project decommissioning, and proposed final land reclamation.
Visual Simulations
A third party was contracted to conduct visual simulations from different viewpoints across the Fox Meadows Project Development Area. The purpose of the visual simulations is to illustrate the Project relative to the landscape. The visual simulations will be shared with the public and submitted as part of our AUC application in 2023. The visual simulation locations were chosen based on a mix of vantage points across the Project site that are mostly accessible to the public.
Noise
The Project will have sound-generating infrastructure, which include the wind turbines, the substation and the battery storage system. Third-party consultants have been retained to model noise from the Project. The 40-decibel contour shown on the map represents the potential impact from the noise emitted from the turbines and substation. 40 decibels is approximately equivalent to the sound produced from light rain or a soft whisper. As we are working diligently on the incorporation of the battery storage system – updated noise results in a future mailout will show noise emitting from the battery units as well. The contours have been modelled utilizing the Siemens Gamesa 6.6 MW wind turbines. Preliminary results indicate noise compliance with AUC Rule 012: Noise Control at all dwellings within the Project Development Area.
Shadow Flicker
Shadow flicker can occur at certain times of the year when the sun passes behind a turbine’s moving blades, casting a shadow seen through a window. Similar to noise impacts, ABO Wind retained a third-party consultant to evaluate shadow flicker from the Project to nearby residences. The study is ongoing, and results will be shared with the public prior to the second Open House.
Historical Resources
ABO Wind will consult with Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women and look to receive clearance for the Project under the provincial Historical Resources Act.
Regulatory Process
An application will be made to the AUC under Rule 007 – Application – Wind Power Plants 10 Megawatts or greater – urban and rural. In addition, but not limited to, the following municipal/provincial permits and/or approvals may be required for the Project:
Download
| Activity | Timeline |
| Public Notification and Project Information Package 1 | July 2022 |
| Open House in Edgerton | August 10, 2022 |
| Environmental Field Studies | Spring 2022 to Fall 2022 |
| Submission of REPS Report to AEPA | Q1 2023 |
| Second Open House | Q1 2023 |
| AUC Application Submission | Q2 2023 |
| AUC Review and Approval | Q2 2023 – Q4 2023 |
| Start of Construction | Q4 2023 |
| Commencement of Operation | Q4 2024 |
The consultation process is guided by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), Rule 007. ABO commits to forthright and meaningful communication that is timely and respectful. Through the ongoing provision of project information, we aim to incite discussion with interested parties and commit to the thoughtful consideration of feedback into our project planning in order to mitigate and avoid impact. Consultation will continue throughout the life of the Project. All correspondence related to the project will be recorded and submitted as part of the Participation Involvement Program for the AUC Application. If you have questions about the Regulatory and Consultation Process, you can contact the AUC at 403-592-4500 or info@auc.ab.ca or visit their website at www.auc.ab.ca.
In August of 2022, ABO Wind hosted an Open House at the Edgerton Agricultural Community Hall. Approximately 50 individuals attended the event to ask questions, offer support or express their concerns for the Project. We have listed some of the key questions from the Open House and responses in this brochure. ABO Wind anticipates hosting a second open house in Q1, 2023. A notification and public announcement will be released once the date and location are finalized.
FAQ from the August 2022 Open House
We find that allowing attendees to seek out topic-specific tables will facilitate their questions being addressed one on one by topic experts without being rushed for time. This method also allows for more questions by more people, many of whom do not want to present their questions openly to the entire room. This walk-through Poster Board format allows for attendees to arrive at any time during the open house hours without having missed information that was presented only at the beginning of the event.
No project is predetermined. The provincial regulatory system is designed to review and assess any project and ultimately decide if a project is in the public’s best interest. Our Project must first be reviewed by both Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) and the regulated Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), where they evaluate the Project relative to certain criteria such as environmental and social impacts. There are also municipal development permits that must be acquired before a project is able to be constructed and commence operations.
Fox Meadows is 100% privately-funded by ABO Wind and is not subsidized by the Government.
The owner of a project is responsible for reclamation of the project and must meet provincial guidelines, at the time of reclamation. Wind projects benefit from the fact that the fuel source (wind) is free. If a company operating a wind project goes bankrupt, the inherent value of a project such as this is retained in the form of: an existing connection to the electrical grid, a free fuel source, and an opportunity to update the technology to continue operations.
Please contact David Berrade at dave.berrade@abo-wind.com with any concerns. ABO Wind would like the opportunity to discuss each concern to understand them, provide potential resolutions and track this information to include with the submission of our application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). In addition, individuals can express their concerns directly to the AUC by visiting www.auc.ab.ca and reviewing the document “Participating in the AUC’s independent review process to consider facility applications”.
We expect a workforce of between 75 to 100 individuals during the estimated 18-month construction period. There will be approximately $70 million of goods and service contracts going to Alberta companies, with preference going to qualified local entities in proximity to the MDs of Wainwright and Provost. Goods and services needed for the Project include: steel, concrete, gravel, accommodations, surveying, snow removal, hydro vac, security, waste/recycling, civil construction, fuel and many more.
The Project is expected to provide tens of millions of dollars in municipal tax revenue over the anticipated 30-year life of the Project. This revenue will be split between the MDs of Provost and Wainwright.
Apart from the royalties that landowners with Project infrastructure on their property will receive, ABO Wind will collaborate with local communities to provide monetary support from a Fox Meadows Community Benefit Fund.
Previous FAQ
The proposed 165 MW Fox Meadows Project is located on privately-owned land between the Town of Provost and the Village of Edgerton.
ABO Wind was founded in 1996 and is now a leading developer of renewable energy projects. ABO Wind opened its Canadian headquarters in Calgary in 2017 and focuses on developing wind, solar, energy storage, and green hydrogen projects throughout Canada. The ABO Wind Canada team is supported by over 900 technical experts from across the globe. For more information, please visit: www.abo-wind.com.
Fox Meadows is at a preliminary stage. We have performed desktop studies, some field studies and are currently verifying the wind. The first notification to the public went out in July 2022.
The Project is planned to produce approximately 165 megawatts of electricity from as many as 25 turbines, depending on technology. This is enough electricity for more than 65,000 homes.
At this time, construction is forecast for the fall of 2024. This is a preliminary construction date and can be influenced by a number of factors that include; the regulatory process, stakeholder feedback, the material supply chain and unforeseen events.
The consultation process is guided primarily by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), Rule 007. ABO commits to forthright and meaningful communication that is timely and respectful. Through the ongoing provision of project information, we aim to incite discussion with interested parties and commit to the thoughtful consideration of feedback into our project planning in order to mitigate and avoid impact. Consultation will continue throughout the life of the Project. All correspondence related to the project will be recorded and submitted as part of the Participation Involvement Program for the AUC Application.
Updates will be provided based on the determination of new, relevant information that is essential for stakeholders to understand the Project.
The Project will have sound-generating infrastructure, which include the wind turbines, substation and potential energy storage. ABO will conduct a third-party noise impact assessment as per Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) Rule 012: Noise Control guidelines to ensure sound generated from the Project will be below required levels.
A community benefit fund will be created to support local organizations and initiatives.
The municipalities of Wainwright and Provost will receive a substantial amount in property taxes from the Project each year.
The Project will create short-term and long-term jobs and contracts for site clearing, road building, electrical, construction and concrete work. In addition, the Project will need regular maintenance throughout its operational life.
The Project proposed will be entirely on privately-owned land.
We respect that some individuals may have concerns regarding health. The Project will be designed to meet or exceed all provincial regulations and guidelines currently in place to protect human health.
Health Canada with Statistics Canada and other external experts conducted a Community Noise and Health Study. The results released in 2014 indicated that wind turbine noise was not linked to self-reported medical illnesses and health conditions. For more information and other studies, https://canwea.ca/wind-facts/your-health/.
As part of the regulatory approval process, a comprehensive environmental study is being undertaken by a third-party consultant that will assess wildlife in the area following the Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) Wildlife Directive. Results from the studies will be inputted into the design of the Project and shared to AEP for review.
The Province of Alberta has committed to have 30% renewable energy electricity generation by 2030. The province also supports the Canadian government’s goal to achieve a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050. Renewable Electricity Act, 2020; (Renewable Electricity Act - Open Government (alberta.ca))
Please. send questions and/or concerns to us through the contact form at www.foxmeadowswind.com or contact our Social Impact and Engagement Lead with the number provided below.
For general information, visit Canadian Renewable Energy Association - Wind. Solar. Storage. (renewablesassociation.ca).
What questions do you have about Fox Meadows Wind? Please do not hesitate to contact us.
