Officials with the Moraine Power project were at the Whitecourt Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, presenting their new proposed project, which would be developed in Woodlands County near Whitecourt.
The project involves construction of an approximately 465 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power generation facility with integrated carbon dioxide (CO2) capture.
“Well we chose Woodlands County because we have good access to infrastructure,” says Roy Beldon, Officer of the Moraine company when asked as to why the company chose Woodlands County. “We have access to natural gas pipelines, and transmission lines.”
Officials say the proposed project will produce near-zero emissions baseload electricity to meet the needs of Alberta electricity customers. According to the Town and County, 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.
“We think it’s great for the economy,” further states Beldon. “There will be upwards of 600 to 700 jobs created during construction and once the plant’s operation is done, we will have an operating staff of about 32 employees, as well as the services the local businesses will provide.”
Project representatives say the proposed project will mark a new milestone in the energy sector by being the first of its kind in the region.
