Montem Resources is withdrawing its plan for a coal mine in the Crownsest Pass so it can focus on building a renewable energy complex, April 25, 2023. (Photo: Jeremy Lamberton)

By David Opinko / with files from Canadian Press

Coal company withdraws plan for mine in Crowsnest Pass to focus on renewable power

Apr 26, 2023 | 9:44 AM

CROWSNEST PASS, AB – An Australian coal company is withdrawing its plan for a mine in the Crowsnest Pass region of the eastern slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.

In a letter, Montem Resources is asking the Alberta Energy Regulator to end the environmental impact assessment for its Tent Mountain proposal.

The letter said the company will not be resuming mining for metallurgical coal at the site, which last operated in 1983.

CEO Peter Doyle explains that the company will instead be focusing efforts on building a renewable hydro project at the site.

In February 2023, Montem announced a deal with TransAlta in which the utility would acquire a 50 per cent interest in the plan to combine wind and hydro to generate renewable electricity.

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Upon completion, the Tent Mountain Renewable Energy Complex will include a 320 megawatt pumped hydro energy storage facility, a 100 megawatt green hydrogen electrolyser, and a 100 megawatt offsite wind farm.

Officials with Montem say the project would generate enough electricity to power up to 400,000 homes, abate up to 590,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, and create as many as 400 jobs.

Doyle says a final decision on whether to proceed with the renewable energy plan will come in 2025.

READ MORE: MOU signed to convert coal mine in Crowsnest Pass to renewable energy complex

READ MORE: TransAlta to invest $26.7 million into Crowsnest Pass renewable energy complex