AUC holds virtual power plant application workshop to guide stakeholders through updates and streamlining recommendations

The AUC recently held a virtual workshop together with Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) on the afternoon of July 21, 2022, to guide stakeholders through the process each organization takes when reviewing power plant facility applications.

The AUC thanks all stakeholders for their participation in the workshop. Presentation slides from the workshop are available in the AUC’s ​Fo​rms, templates and reference material​ library.

Over 200 participants attended the session from various disciplines with subject matter experts available to explain specific requirements and answer audience questions. The workshop was the largest virtual gathering the AUC has hosted to date.

“We had a packed session and I’m so grateful for all the AUC staff and presenters from AEP and AESO who made this event a success,” says Kloria Wen, engineer with the AUC.

The AUC’s presentation provided at the workshop covered a number of topics including an overview of AUC Rule 007 and power plant applications, recent changes to AUC processes, requirements for environmental, noise, gas utility pipelines and Indigenous consultation, and application streamlining and provided helpful hints to streamline the review processes.

AUC staff specifically identified information about regulatory processes and application requirements for new power plants. Recent updates, including the regulatory streamlining of all new power plants equal to or greater than one megawatt and less than 10 megawatts were highlighted with an additional focus on identifying further recommendations to improve the efficiency of our processes and procedures, and to ​reduce regulatory burden.

“The workshops are an efficient way for the AUC to provide timely communication of the changes to rules and processes and to provide ongoing outreach related to the power plant application process,” says Wayne MacKenzie, executive director of the AUC’s Facilities Division. “This was our second power plant workshop and the first since 2019.”

The AUC was joined by staff from AEP Industrial Approvals who provided an overview of its application process for thermal electric power plant approvals. Staff from the AESO provided an overview of its interconnection process for new power plants, highlighted current work constraints, and identified some common issues that occur in this process. AEP Fish and Wildlife Stewardship closed off the workshop by introducing its new Renewable Energy Risk Framework.

The AUC uses an established process to review social, economic and environmental impacts of facility projects to decide if approval of a project is in the public interest. A number of additional resources and information on what is involved in reviewing power generation applications in Alberta and the AUC’s review process for facility applications are publicly available.

Any questions or feedback with respect to the workshop and application processes can be sent to Wayne MacKenzie at 403-592-4420 or wayne.mackenzie@auc.ab.ca, or Kloria Wen at 403-592-4367 or kloria.wen@auc.ab.ca.