Ausenco has led the environmental assessments for multiple wind power projects in Alberta for TransAlta, including the 207 MW Windrise Wind Project, which was selected by the Alberta Electric System Operator as one of the two successful projects in the third round of the Renewable Electricity Program. Our team led the regulatory consultation and submission to achieve an Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) Renewable Energy Referral Report for the project to support the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) Rule 007 Facility Application. Ausenco also supported the AEP and AUC Supplemental Information Requests, and worked closely with TransAlta to develop a project-specific environmental permitting strategy, including amendments related to technology and layout changes for the Project.
We successfully supported the Project from baseline data collection, through regulatory approvals, to the commencement of construction within a three-year period. We have been recognized as having provided timely and strategic advice to expedite the AUC approval schedule, resulting in significant time and cost savings for the Project. We also engaged closely with AEP to minimize the soil survey effort prior to construction to comply with the Conservation and Reclamation Directive and is currently completing environmental monitoring during the construction of the Project.