Wednesday, August 17, 2022

ALBERTA
'Would like to see it moved': Community members raise concerns about location of proposed solar site near Calmar


The location of a proposed solar power project in Leduc County was a main concern raised by community members at an open house Tuesday evening.


Richard Haas, managing director of Voltarix, speaks during an open house held by Voltarix about the Creekside Solar Project in Calmar at the Royal Canadian Legion southwest of Edmonton, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. The solar project is being planned for RR 271 and TWN 494 outside of Calmar in Leduc County. Photo by Ian Kucerak

The Voltarix Group, the developers of the proposed Creekside Solar Project, gave a presentation outlining the project and heard concerns raised by community members during the open house from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Calmar.

The proposed site is about 0.8 kilometres south of Calmar, spanning 127.62 acres.

Darcy Doblanko was one of the more than 40 community members in attendance. He said the topsoil is about 10 to 13 inches deep at the proposed site, adding the soil is in good condition.

“I think at the end of the day, the majority of us would like to see it moved to where it’s not as fertile of land, I think that’s the end game,” he said.

“We’re not against green energy by no means, because we need to do something with our society, but why put it where all this top soil is? I mean it’s crazy.”

Doblanko, a third-generation farmer south of Calmar, said the proposed site currently has canola and alfalfa growing on it.

“One piece at a time, we’re losing so much of our valuable, valuable farmland and you don’t get it back,” said Doblanko.


Darcy Doblanko asks a question during an open house held by Voltarix about the Creekside Solar Project in Calmar at the Royal Canadian Legion southwest of Edmonton, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. The solar project is being planned for RR 271 and TWN 494 outside of Calmar in Leduc County. 
Photo by Ian Kucerak

Richard Haas, managing director for the Voltarix Group, said the proposed site could produce power for about 5,000 residential homes. He added he has heard concern from the community regarding preserving prime agricultural land.

“The Creekside Solar Project ensures that the soil below the project are not stripped from the site, this site is not subdivided for residential or commercial development, it’s not paved over,” said Haas.

“We’re doing our best to leave that agricultural value intact and continue to incorporate agricultural uses.”

The 127.62 acre proposed site makes up 0.03 per cent of Leduc County’s 151,000 hectares of prime agricultural land, said Haas.

While a large number of attendees had concerns regarding the project, Haas said some farmers within the area have expressed interest in grazing sheep on the property and others have said they were interested in using the small spaces between the rows of solar panels for agricultural purposes.

Haas said Tuesday was Day 225 of community engagement for the proposed project, adding only 14 days are required before filing a power plant application.

“We have everything that we need to file a power plant application today if we wanted to, but we’re going to continue having this conversation with the community and try our best to resolve issues before filing a power plant application,” he said.

Haas said a renewable energy referral report conducted by Alberta Environment and Parks has classified the project as “low-risk.” He added there is confirmed ground contamination at the proposed site but further testing is needed to assess the contamination level.

Community members pointed to the site’s close proximity to an operating substation, which helps connect the solar station to the electrical grid, as a leading factor in the selection of the site.

Doblanko suggested they use a different site in the area with working substations and worse soil conditions.

“There’s substations more south and all these places where there is poorer soil,” said Doblanko.

ktaniguchi@postmedia.com

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