Power plant decisions

The construction and operation of a power generation facility requires an application to the Commission under section 11 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act. ​Power plant decisions are grouped below by generation source: (i) thermal energy (includes coal and natural gas); (ii) wind energy; (iii) solar energy; (iv) hydro energy; and (v) other (includes biomass, waste heat, etc.).

The issues typically considered in power generation facility decisions include:

• Consultation – includes adequacy, scope of consultation with landowners, other interested parties.
• Property impacts – includes property value, agricultural impacts, business impacts, future development impacts.
• Health and safety – includes electromagnetic fields (EMF), emergency response plan, icing and fogging, human health impacts, shadow flicker.
• Siting – includes choice of location, proposed alternatives.
• Environment – includes emissions, wildlife, plants, native prairie, water and water crossings.
• Noise – includes noise impact assessment, post construction monitoring.
• First Nations – includes consultation, impacts to constitutional rights.
• Uncontested – applications with no outstanding objections, or objections were received and the AUC determined that the parties did not meet the test for standing.

Decisions for reference