Grizzly Bear Creek Wind Power

Enel Green Power's Grizzly Bear Wind Power project was approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to construct 34 wind turbines south of the Village of Mannville within the County of Minburn and County of Vermilion River. This 152 MW project was completed in early 2023 and generates 528 GWh of energy annually (equivalent to 73,000+ households) into the Alberta grid, avoiding 343,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. 

Project Schedule
April 2022 Road improvements commence, MET tower erection
May 2022 Main road improvements complete
June 2022 Intersection upgrades complete
August 2022/January 2023 Turbine erection
June 2023 Project in-service 

 

Community and landowner inquiries: Toll Free - 1-800-430-9285


March 31, 2023 Update

The heavy civil team contractor, Pennecon, has been demobilized from the site. Until restoration work starts (May/June), all wind project traffic and work at the Operations and Maintenance building is light truck traffic only. 

March 13, 2023 Update

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Turbine Commissioning 22 complete 56%
O&M building completion Internal wall construction commencing 61%


March 3, 2023 Update

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Collection lines Fiber optic testing 83% complete 98%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion 34 turbines erected, 34 blade sets installed, tower wiring complete 99%
Turbine Commissioning 16 complete 44%
O&M building completion   49%


February 18, 2023 Update

Demobilization of equipment in the laydown yard is ongoing. O&M building wall installation ongoing.

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Collection lines   94%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion 34 turbines erected, 34 blade sets installed, tower wiring to be completed on 4 turbines 96%
Turbine Commissioning 9 complete 24%
O&M building completion wall installation ongoing 21%


January 28, 2023 Update

Demobilization of equipment in the laydown yard is ongoing.

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Collection lines   94%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion 29 turbines erected, 29 blade sets installed 84%
Turbine Commissioning 9 complete 24%
O&M building completion

  17%


   


December 17, 2022 Update

On May 5, 2022 AUC approval #26677-D02-2022 was granted to construct and operate the project. Since this time, Enel has been working toward completion of the construction phase of the project by January 31, 2023. However, due to supply chain issues and unfavorable weather conditions, Enel may need to extend the construction period as late as April 30, 2023. In the interim, Enel intends to continue work on the project and is targeting completion of wind turbine installation activities by January 31, 2023. 

After January 31, 2023, it is possible that some wind turbine erection may be ongoing and consistent with work that has been occurring in the project area since August 2022. After erection of the wind turbines is complete, commissioning activities will be focused on work inside the wind turbines. This internal commissioning will not involve heavy equipment use (eg. concrete trucks, cranes) and will result in minimal disruption. Upon completion of installation and commissioning activities, Enel will resume reclamation activities as weather permits in 2023. 

Any questions can be sent to Mike Stafford at AKODA at: mstafford@akodaland.com or 403-808-5199

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Substation construction Energized on December 5 100%
Collection lines   90%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion 25 turbines erected, 22 blade sets installed. All components have been received. 68%
O&M building completion   13%


December 3, 2022 Update

Work on the electrical system has progressed to the point where the energization of the Grizzly Bear Creek Substation Wind Farm is scheduled for December 5, 2022. As of December 5, 2022, the following parts of the wind farm electrical system shall be considered energized and potentially hazardous:

  • ATCO Transmission Line Substation to Grizzly Bear Creek Substation along Rge Rd 83
  • Grizzly Bear Creek Substation

On December 12, 2022 Enel intends to energize all Grizzly Bear electrical infrastructure, including the wind turbines and underground cables.

For the next few months Enel and its contractors will be performing testing on these systems to confirm proper operation. During this time, you will see the turbines in and out of operation - this is normal during the test period. Please reach out directly to Enel if you have any questions.

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Substation construction Being energized on December 5 99%
Collection lines All electrical infrastructure planned to be energized on December 12 82%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion 20 turbines erected, 19 blade sets installed 59%
O&M building completion   12%


November 12, 2022 Update

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Substation construction   81%
Collection lines   64%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion 15 turbines erected, 15 blade sets installed 49%
O&M building completion   5%


October 22, 2022 Update

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Foundation overall completion all 34 foundations poured 100%
Substation construction   57%
Collection lines   42%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion 12 turbines erected, 10 blades sets installed 41%


     

October 1, 2022 Update:

The temporary concrete batch plant is complete. Reclamation work will commence. All 34 foundations have been poured. 6 turbines erected and 6 blade sets installed.

September 17, 2022 Update:

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Foundation overall completion 33 foundations poured 74%
Substation construction   55%
Collection lines   21%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion 4 turbines erected, 3 blade sets installed 14%


August 27, 2022 Update:

Wet spring conditions and supply chain disruptions have put the project behind by 2 months. In order to get the project back on schedule and reduce congestion on the roads during harvest, nighttime construction will commence in accordance to the Alberta Utility Commission's guidelines. Daytime construction activities will be prioritized but the following nighttime activities are expected:

WorkExpected to CommenceExpected Nighttime Hours of Operation
Concrete foundation pours August 24 Plant operation as early as 3:30am
Wind turbine erection August 29 7pm - 7am 
Crane disassembly and transport August 29 7pm - 7am

All questions, comments, complaints, and/or suggestions related to night construction shall be directed towards Chris Poitras (Landowner Liaison) at 403-510-2341 or cpoitras@akodaland.com

  

August 15, 2022 Update:

Turbine delivery is underway (27% of components have been received) and components are starting to be assembled. Roughly 11 components/day are entering the project area off Hwy 881.

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Foundation overall completion 21 foundations poured 49%
Substation construction   40%
Turbine erection and mechanical overall completion   1%

  

 

August 1, 2022 Update:

Turbine delivery is starting. Construction is continued on access and municipal roads. 

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Foundation overall completion 15 foundations poured 40%
Substation construction   39%
Collection lines   13%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 15, 2022 Update:

Few weeks away from turbine deliveries. Deliveries are now expected the week of August 1. ATCO Electric has been working in the area installing the transmission poles. Poles installed on Rge Rd 83 during July 16 weekend.

WorkDescriptionPercentage Complete
Access roads 29 have been constructed, now finishing then granular, 5 remaining to construct 90%
Municipal roads Preparation for deliveries. Calcium chloride dust control is planned to be re-applied prior to turbine deliveries 85%
Foundation overall completion 10 foundations poured 28%
Substation construction Constructing the substation building 7%
Collection lines Completed fee B which is a short feeder line north of the substation. Currently working east of Rge Rd 83. 3%

 

June 23, 2022 Update:

  • 28 access roads are under construction
  • 15 turbine pads have been excavated
  • 5 turbine pads with rebar are under construction (this is where cranes are present), 3 complete
  • 2 turbine concrete pads have been poured
  • Trenching and cable placement started this week. Collection line on the north end of the project has started. Approximately 700m/day is being completed.
  • Turbine component deliveries are scheduled to start the week of July 18
  • Laydown yard work trailer install is 95% complete. Material has been arriving daily so landowners can expect to see lots of cranes in the area where the contractor has been offloading. One of the main cranes will remain in the laydown yard.

    

 

May 12, 2022 Update:

  • MET towers have been erected.
  • County road improvements continue and are expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
  • Temporary road widening and turning radii will be scheduled at a later date.
  • Calcium chloride dust suppression is scheduled to start on Friday, May 13.
  • Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) permit and Water Act approvals have been approved; private access road activity will increase and pad construction will continue. 
  • Turbine foundation construction commencing.
  • Underground utilities planned to commence install  on May 24.

   

 

April 4, 2022 Updates:

  • Contractor (Pennecon) commencing County road improvements on Rge Rd 83, starting from the south at Twp Rd 490 and working north. Construction traffic includes graders and gravel trucks.
  • Contractor will be performing preconstruction civil work on private landowner's property. 
  • In the areas of work activity, construction signage will be in place.

Map of haul routes, turbine locations, and intersection upgrades:


 

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