January 15, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta –– Turning Point Generation (TPG) is pleased to announce that the construction and operation of the Canyon Creek Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project has been formally approved by the Alberta Legislature, a requirement made necessary by the Project’s status as a “hydro development” under the Hydro and Electric Energy Act (Alberta). The Canyon Creek Hydro Development Act received Royal Assent on December 11th and enabled the Alberta Utilities Commission to issue its final approval of the Project on December 21st. This final approval by the Commission confirms its earlier determination made in August. The Canyon Creek Project is the first hydro project to be approved by the Alberta Legislature in ten years as well as both the first ever pumped hydro and first ever large-scale energy storage project to be approved in Alberta.
The Canyon Creek Hydro Development Act passed unanimously and had exceptional bipartisan support, as demonstrated by the following quotations.
Honorable Ms. McCuaig – Boyd, Minister of Energy (NDP): “I’m very glad to join my colleagues to promote this strong and good project.”
Prasad Panda, Shadow Minister of Energy (UCP): “I believe this is a good project for the Hinton area and for Alberta… This is a green project that is needed with the level of renewables being introduced to the Alberta electricity market. I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.”
Eric Rosendahl, MLA for West Yellowhead (NDP): “This is a good news story for Alberta, showing that companies are confident to invest in our province. Alberta has always been a leader in oil and gas, and increasing the production of greener electricity will further enhance our leadership position as a responsible energy producer.”
Leela Sharon Aheer, Deputy Leader of the Opposition (UCP): “This is a fantastic idea.” and “I thank the government for this piece of legislation.”
“This is an important milestone for the Project, for TPG and for Alberta’s electricity sector”, said Kipp Horton, President & CEO of Turning Point’s parent company, WindRiver Power Corporation, “and we are excited to now engage with financing partners to move the Project to the construction phase”. According to Horton, pumped hydro energy storage will be a critical feature of Alberta’s electricity grid as the grid accommodates increasing production from renewable energy, particularly large-scale wind. “The Project addresses a key hurdle to integrating renewable generation by absorbing its intermittent output and delivering stable, reliable, carbon-free electricity back to the grid. Pumped hydro is a proven storage technology, deployed globally for decades, and the Project’s closed-loop, off-stream design significantly reduces any potential adverse environmental impacts to Alberta’s natural river courses”.
Turning Point Generation is a subsidiary of WindRiver Power Corporation. WindRiver is engaged in the development, ownership and operation of renewable energy projects in Western Canada and internationally, with a focus on run-of-river hydro, wind generation and now, through Turning Point, pumped hydro energy storage.
For further information: Kipp Horton, Director – Turning Point Generation and President & CEO – WindRiver Power Corporation, 403-233-2259, kipp.horton@windriver.ca