Utilities commission OKs TransAlta plant

Regulator dismisses air quality concerns at site near Wabamun

TransAlta’s new gas-fired electricity plant near Wabamun got a green light from the Alberta Utilities Commission, which dismissed concerns about increased air pollution into the Edmonton area.

Sundance7—an856-megawatt plant — is a joint venture with Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company and could come on stream in 2018, according to the AUC ruling.

The AUC noted that there have been instances where the air pollutant PM2.5 — fine particulate matter — has exceeded limits in the area, but says they won’t be any worse if this plant is added to the mix.

“The number and duration of PM2.5 exceedances with the addition of the (Sundance 7) project would remain unchanged” near the plant and there is no evidence of adverse health effects, says the ruling.

The AUC also accepted the company’s evidence that there will be no impact on air quality in Edmonton or additional health impacts associated with the new plant.

The particulate PM2.5 is associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke and respiratory disease.

Edmonton has already exceeded legal limits on some winter days in recent years.

TransAlta notes that gasfired electricity is less polluting than coal-fired plants and the company intends to shut down two smaller coal units in 2019.

The company also says there is no evidence that two other pollutants, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides, spread into the Edmonton area from its power plants west of the city

But environmentalists say there could be more problems with air quality, especially given that PM2.5 is already a problem in the Edmonton airshed.

Nitrogen oxide from gas-fired power plants can combine with other chemicals in the air to produce secondary PM2.5, said Ben Thibeault, an electricity expert with the Pembina Institute, an environmental research group.

The institute suggested delaying the startup of Sundance 7 until the two smaller coal units are shut down to avoid adding to the pollution load. The AUC rejected the suggestion.

In December, a new provincial air quality report found Edmonton had already exceeded the legal limits of PM2.5 on winter days in 2012.

A multi-stakeholder group is studying the various sources of pollution, including vehicles and industrial sources.

“We are already at the limits for PM2.5, so who is going to deal with this issue?” said Thibeault.

Sundance 7 is third new plant approved west of Edmonton. Capital Power’s Genesee 4 and 5 gas-fired plants were approved months ago.

Also, Atco plans a 400-megawatt plant in the industrial heartland east of Edmonton.

A provincial Environment study found electric power generation emits most nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide in the capital region, Thibeault added.

It’s possible, when all those units are operating, that nitrogen oxide emissions will be even higher than with two coal units operating, he said.