Renewable energy company with ties near Suffield will propose a large wind farm near Shaunavon

A Quebec-based renewable power developer says it will submit a major wind farm proposal near Shaunavon into SaskPower’s current round of green energy procurement.

Innergex officials hosted a public information session online on Thursday to lay out plans and answer questions about the “Gusty Point” wind farm.

It would be located east of Shaunavon and, if built to the proposed 200-megawatt capacity, could require up to 50 turbines.

The project, estimated to cost $200 million, would require about 250 construction workers, then up to eight fulltime operations staff when it comes online in 2023.

That is largely depending on success at this autumn’s renewable energy procurement process undertaken by SaskPower, which hopes to add 300-megawatts of green power from contracted suppliers.

The Crown power provider announced in March that it has prequalified 19 developers to submit more detailed proposals by a November deadline. A decision is expected in January.

The previous round, in

2018, was won on a low-price supply bid from Potentia Renewables to build a 200-megawatt facility in Assiniboia known as “Golden South.” That same year, Potentia won a portion of a similar auction in Alberta related to the planned Jenner Wind complex northwest of CFB Suffield.

Innergex owns and operates hydro, wind and solar production plants in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia in Canada, as well as facilities in Idaho and Chile.