Why are you receiving this newsleer? You are receiving this newsleer because you are a landowner, resident or occupant located near the proposed substaon project in the Westwood area, south of Fort Saskatchewan and we want your input. What does this project involve? AltaLink is proposing to build a new substaon, called Westwood 422S, and connect its exisng 700L transmission line to the new substaon. We want to provide you with: • Project details • A project schedule • A map • Informaon on how you can provide input Westwood Substaon Development March 2010 " ) " ) FORT SASKATCHEWAN N o r t h S a s k a t c h e w a n R i v er U V 21 U V 15 STRATHCONA COUNTY ALTERNATE WESTWOOD 422S SUB SITE B PREFERRED WESTWOOD 422S SUB SITE A Who is AltaLink? AltaLink is a regulated ulity that owns and operates approximately 11,800 kilometres of transmission lines and 270 substaons. We provide electric service to more than 85 per cent of Albertans and own the majority of the transmission system in central and southern Alberta. To find out more about AltaLink, or if you have any quesons please contact us at 1-877-267-1453. Included in this Stakeholder Informaon Package: • Maps illustrang the proposed developments • Good Neighbors brochure • A Dialogue on Electric & Magnec Fields brochure • The Alberta Electric System Operator’s Need overview • Public Involvement in Needs or Facilies Applicaons
Transcript
Why are you receiving this newsletter?You are receiving this newsletter because you are a landowner, resident or occupant located near the proposed substation project in the Westwood area, south of Fort Saskatchewan and we want your input.
What does this project involve?AltaLink is proposing to build a new substation, called Westwood 422S, and connect its existing 700L transmission line to the new substation.
We want to provide you with:
• Project details
• A project schedule
• A map
• Information on how you can provide input
Westwood Substation Development
March 2010
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FORTSASKATCHEWANNor
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UV15
STRATHCONACOUNTY
ALTERNATEWESTWOOD 422SSUB SITE B
PREFERREDWESTWOOD 422SSUB SITE A
Who is AltaLink? AltaLink is a regulated utility that owns and operates approximately 11,800 kilometres of transmission lines and 270 substations. We provide electric service to more than 85 per cent of Albertans and own the majority of the transmission system in central and southern Alberta. To find out more about AltaLink, or if you have any questions please contact us at 1-877-267-1453.
Included in this Stakeholder Information Package:• Maps illustrating the proposed developments
• Good Neighbors brochure
• A Dialogue on Electric & Magnetic Fields brochure
• The Alberta Electric System Operator’s Need overview
• Public Involvement in Needs or Facilities Applications
Electricity. When you need it.
What are the project details?
New Substation
AltaLink is proposing to build a new 138/25 kilovolt (kV) substation, called Westwood 422S. Two possible locations for the new substation have been indentified south of Fort Saskatchewan adjacent to Range Road 224. The preferred site is located in the southwest corner of NW-16-54-22-W4M and the alternate site is located on the west side of SW-21-54-22-W4M, directly south of the drainage ditch.
The southwest corner of NW-16-54-22-W4M has been designated the preferred site due to input received from landowners, proximity to existing infrastructure in the area, environmental review, and proximity to the area that the substation is meant to service.
A substation allows electricity to be safely and efficiently transmitted and distributed to your community. It will contain electrical equipment, such as a transformer and associated circuit breakers. Transformers reduce the voltage of the electricity carried on the transmission system and circuit breakers are switches designed to protect an electrical circuit. The proposed substation site will be approximately 50 metres x 60 metres (164 feet x 197 feet) in size and will be accessible through a locked gate by authorized personnel. Please refer to the enclosed map for the proposed sites.
Line Connection
AltaLink is proposing to connect its existing 700L transmission line to the new Westwood 422S Substation, if the substation is approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). In order to do this, AltaLink will construct up to seven new pole structures, including one H-Frame structure, two single-pole steel structures, and four single-pole
wood structures. The single-pole wood and steel structures will be similar in height as the current structures in
the area, which are approximately 24 metres (80 feet) tall. Landowners will be consulted
where access and activities are needed on private property.
The new Westwood 422S Substation will be similar
to the substation pictured here
Typical single-pole structure
Telecommunications Tower
As part of the proposed Westwood 422S Substation project, AltaLink will be installing a telecommunications tower. The tower will be located inside the substation fence which will only be accessible through a locked gate by authorized personnel. The purpose of the telecommunications tower is to support equipment that transmits data to our system control centre. It will be used by the AltaLink Control Centre for remote control operation of the electrical system, as well as private voice communications to staff on site, allowing us to monitor the safety and reliability of our electrical system.
The telecommunications tower at either the preferred (Latitude: 53.858 N/Longitude: 113.230 W) or alternate (Latitude: 53.674 N/Longitude: 113.195 W) site will be approximately 25 metres (82 feet) tall with a triangle base dimension of approximately 2 metres (6.5 feet). The telecommunications tower will be self supporting and there will be antennas attached at or near the top of the tower. It will be painted and have obstruction lighting to meet the requirements of Transport Canada.
The new telecommunications tower will be similar to the tower pictured to the left.
For more information regarding AltaLink and this project, please contact us at:
If you have any questions or concerns please contact AltaLink within 30 days of receiving this notification.
Richard Hird, P.Eng., AltaLink
Manager, Network Communications
Richard Hird attests that the radio installation described in this notification package will be installed and operated on an ongoing basis so as to comply with Health Canada’s Safety Code 6, which defines safe levels of radio frequency, (RF), exposure. The radio system described is excluded from the environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. To ensure the structural adequacy of the tower, the design and installation will follow industry standards and sound engineering practices.
Electricity. When you need it.
What is the project schedule?
Feb/March 2010 Notify and consult with landowners, residents and occupants
April/May 2010 File application with the AUC
August 2010 Start project construction if approval is granted by the AUC
December 2010 Complete project construction
Why is this project needed?The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) has determined the transmission system in the Fort Saskatchewan area needs to be reinforced to meet the growing demand for electricity in the area. The AESO is an independent, not-for-profit entity responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System.
Please refer to the AESO insert Need for transmission system development in the Fort Saskatchewan area for further clarification on the need for the proposed Westwood Substation. Please feel free to contact AltaLink or the AESO if you have any questions or concerns regarding the need.
What happens during construction?Depending on where you are in relation to the project you may see or hear:
• Noise and construction crews
• Installation of transmission structures
• Stringing of wires on new transmission structures
• Construction of a substation
• Installation of a telecommunications tower
• Leveling and grading for the substation site
Throughout the construction process, AltaLink and its contractors will follow all applicable Alberta Environment legislation and requirements and use appropriate techniques to protect water quality, soil, vegetation and wildlife habitat. Obtaining access and carrying out activities on private property is done on consultation with landowner. Any noise associated with the construction and/or operation of the new facilities will comply with the Alberta Utilities Commission’s (AUC) Noise Control Rule 12 and any other relevant provincial and municipal noise regulations and standards.
Environmental ConsiderationsAltaLink is committed to minimizing environmental impacts. Alberta Environment’s guidelines will be followed during the preparation and construction of the proposed substation.
AltaLink will ensure that its contractors use environmentally appropriate techniques to protect topsoil and subsoil structures and use appropriate equipment to minimize compaction and rutting.
What about Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF)?AltaLink recognizes that some people are concerned about EMF and we treat those concerns very seriously. AltaLink has experts who are available on request to measure the EMF or noise levels around your home, and ensure that all ungrounded metallic objects such as metal buildings and fences near the transmission line are properly grounded if necessary.
How can you provide input?Over the next few weeks an AltaLink representative will contact residents, occupants and landowners near the proposed substation site to discuss the proposed locations, get your input and answer questions.
AltaLink is committed to sharing information about its projects and working with the public to ensure input and concerns are heard and understood. We consider landowner comments in our project evaluations and summarize the input received from landowners in our Facility Application (FA). The FA describes our plans to meet technical requirements set by the AESO and provides information on routing, the environment, costs, project components and schedules, and our participant involvement program. We will submit the FA to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for its approval.
The AUC is a quasi-judicial agency, established by the Alberta government, that ensures the fair and responsible delivery of our utility services. We have enclosed a copy of the AUC brochure: Public Involvement in Facility Applications, which describes how you can be involved in the AUC process.
Thank you!Your feedback is important to us. To learn more about AltaLink visit www.altalink.ca. To learn more about this project visit www.altalink.ca/westwood, or please contact us at the information listed below:
2611 - 3rd Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2A 7W7 www.altalink.caPhone: 1-877-267-1453
Who can you contact for more information? To learn more about the proposed project you can contact:
