Local municipal officials say comments are being accepted until July 7, 2023, for a proposed CO2 capture and power generation project in Woodlands County near Whitecourt.
Last month, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) announced it would be accepting comments on the Initial Project Description for the Moraine Power Generation Project from Moraine Initiatives Ltd. (Moraine), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Electric Company.
The proposed project, involves construction of an approximately 465 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power generation facility with integrated carbon dioxide (CO2) capture.
Town and County officials say Moraine recently submitted an Initial Project Description (IPD) to the IACC, the federal regulator reviewing the project. The proposed project would be expected to produce near-zero emissions baseload electricity to meet the needs of Alberta electricity customers.
Company officials, meantime, say the project is planned to be compliant with Canada’s proposed Clean Electricity Regulations and is aligned with the federal government’s objectives of achieving net-zero emissions from the electricity grid by 2035.
“Canada and Alberta are creating and enabling a policy, regulatory, and investment framework for integrated power generation and CO2 capture projects, which will play an important role in decarbonizing the electricity sector,” said Ankur Mathur, Vice President of Moraine Initiatives Ltd. “Moraine has the potential to be a market leading, near-zero CO2 emissions power generation project that will deliver reliable, dispatchable, and efficient electricity for years to come.”
Officials say the proposed project will mark a new milestone in the energy sector by being the first of its kind in the region. The proposed project is expected to boost the local economy by supporting new job creation, enhancing sustainability, and enabling the development of CO2 capture and sequestration infrastructure to support future low[1]emissions investment and growth in the region. Town and County officials say this location was selected for the project not only due to the natural resources and available infrastructure, but also due to the vitality of the community.
Quality of life opportunities, such as health care, recreational, and cultural facilities, are noted as an essential component to attracting and retaining those that will construct and maintain this facility if approved.
“Our team has been working with Moraine Initiatives Limited over the last year in support of the proposed power generation project,” said Whitecourt Mayor Tom Pickard. “This is great news for our community, and is an encouraging step towards the development of this emerging energy sector in our region and diversification of our economy.”
Woodlands County Reeve John Burrows shared his enthusiasm with the proposed project selecting the area.
“There are a variety of natural resource opportunities in Woodlands County, and it is both exciting and optimistic that industry and developers are taking notice of everything our region has to offer, from its geology to its people.”
For more information, please see the Agency’s public notice.
