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Medicine Hat receives regulatory approval to purchase solar farm project

Feb 4, 2025 | 3:24 PM

The City of Medicine Hat will move ahead with the purchase of a massive solar farm project after receiving regulatory approval Tuesday from a provincial authority.

The Alberta Utilities Commission also signed off in the city’s plan to build up to 75 megawatts worth of solar panels in a first phase of the Saamis Solar Park.

Before pursuing any construction, the city will need to apply to the commission for an amendment to the existing project approval to reflect the intended smaller size and related phasing.

Staff say the project will allow the city to diversify its power to offset carbon pricing and prepare for uncertainties that its natural gas company faces.

Critics say they are concerned by a lack of information around the cost for the city in the near and long-term.

Staff have maintained more information would be available once the purchase takes place.

“Now that the city owns the project, we can properly pursue more detailed analysis that will inform how to optimize the value of this new asset, taking into consideration customer and community interests, as well as changing market and regulatory conditions,” the city said in a statement Tuesday.

CHAT News has requested comment from the Medicine Hat Utilities Ratepayer Association, an advocacy organization that submitted a request to intervene in the regulator’s approval process.

This is a developing story. Please refresh for the latest.

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