Project at a Glance
Location: 40 kilometers south of Lethbridge, Alberta
Partners: Suncor Energy Products, Inc., Enbridge Income Fund
Construction completed: 2004
Wind power: 30 MW capacity, using 20 GE 1.5 MW wind turbine generators
Projected CO2 emissions avoided: Approximately 97,000 tons annually
Local tidbit: This area is one of the sunniest and warmest cities in Canada with close to 2,400 hours of sunshine per year. It is also the frequent beneficiary of a phenomenon called the chinook, a warm west wind providing above freezing breaks throughout the winter season.
The Magrath Wind Power Project produces enough electricity for approximately 10,000 homes. Project partner Enbridge has contracted to purchase one-third of the project’s power output for its pipeline system. The remainder is sold to consumers through Alberta’s electricity grid.
According to the Canadian Wind Energy Association, it is estimated that wind energy creates 27 percent more jobs than coal electric and 66 percent more than natural gas electric per unit of energy. Wind farms invigorate rural Canada, and the Magrath Wind Power Project is no exception. The Magrath Wind Power Project provides jobs and increased revenues for Alberta through investments in local infrastructure, lease agreements with local landowners and property tax revenues from the project over its lifetime.
Environmental sustainability
As with all ACCIONA projects, an extensive environmental assessment was done as part of the design and construction of the Magrath Wind Power Project. The company consulted with provincial and federal biologists, regulators, community groups and local landowners throughout the project to ensure environmental impacts were avoided, minimized or mitigated. Mitigation measures included extensive land reclamation following construction and an ongoing study of potential effects to bird habitat and migration.