Browsing Energy

Keephills 3 Coal Power Plant Up and Running

On September 1st, Capital Power Corporation and TransAlta Corporation announced that the 495 megawatt Keephills 3 coal power generation station is now operational.  Capital Power Corp and TransAlta Corp equally split the estimated $1.98 billion cost of constructing the facility. Capital Power led the construction of the plant, while TransAlta will be responsible for operations. The [...]

Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Line Receives Support of First Nations Groups

Three First Nations bands living in the path of the $725-million Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Line have agreed to support the project. In February, BC Hydro was ordered to return to the negotiating table with thirteen First Nations groups after a judge ruled that BC Hydro had failed to adequately consult with the groups. [...]

Panel Suggests Nalcor’s Lower Churchill Analysis “Inadequate”

A panel that was assigned to review Nalcor Energy’s project analysis for the $6.2-billion, 2250-MW Lower Churchill hydroelectric project has suggested that the economic, energy and environmental considerations were not adequately examined. The Joint Review Panel, which consists of representatives from the provincial and federal government, concluded that “t the project would have several significant [...]

Shell Canada Seeks Approval for Quest Carbon Capture and Storage Project

Shell Canada is seeking regulatory approval for its $1.35 billion Quest carbon capture and storage project, which is a joint venture with Chevron Canada and Marathon Oil Sands. According to Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board this is the first commercial scale project to apply for regulatory approval. The Alberta government is providing $745 million over [...]

Swan Hills Synfuels In-Situ Coal Gasification and Power Project

The project by Swan Hills Synfuels represents a $1.5 billion investment in coal gasification, power generation and carbon capture and storage technology. Expected to come online in 2015 this project taps into deep coal beds that are not considered practical to mine traditionally. Instead, the coal is turned directly into a synthetic gas while remaining [...]

Ontario Moves to Ease Concerns About Feed In Tariff Contracts

Ontario’s Ministry of Energy released a directive on Tuesday that will make it more difficult for Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to cancel contracts signed under the Feed in Tariff (FIT) program. This reaction from the Ontario government seems to be in response to industry uncertainty prompted by Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak’s election platform to cancel the FIT program as well [...]

Durham Region Council Approves Energy from Waste Project

The Durham Regional council voted on Tuesday to proceed with the planned $272 million energy from waste project in Clarington, just east of Oshawa. The project is a partnership with Covanta Energy Corp to build, maintain and operate the facility, which will burn 140,000 tonnes of energy per year. The facility should also produce 13.6 [...]

Construction imminent for Canada’s largest wind farm

CEO and president of Greengate Power Dan Balaban said that they had recently overcome “the last major regulatory approval we require to commence construction on the Blackspring Ridge project.” Alberta Utilities Commission has given approval to begin construction of the Blackspring Ridge I Wind Project. All that remains is for the company to finalize some [...]

Costs Double for Bipole III Project

In 2007 Manitoba Hydro announced plans to construct a new hydroelectric transmission line at a cost of $2.2 billion. Now, in a document leaked to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, that estimate has almost doubled to $4.1 billion. Manitoba Hydro President Bob Brennan acknowledged that the price of the project has risen due to increased converter station construction [...]

Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Project

$602 million 2012 Rank: 51 2011 Rank: 48 Sector: Transmission Location: Merritt to Coquitlam, British Columbia Owner: BC Hydro Key Players: Project/Construction Manager: Hatch (construction program management) Contractor: Flatiron-Graham Joint Venture (design, procurement, construction) Other: Golder Associates (environmental program management) Funding: Public BC Hydro: $602 million Description: BC Hydro’s plan to build a new 500 [...]