Wheatland County has given municipal approval for two major wind power developers, for two separate farms that will dot the Wintering Hills, located southwest of Dalum.
Greengate Power Corp. and Suncor Energy Inc. both were approved by the county, on December 9 and January 13 respectively, bringing the approximately 166 turbines one step closer to becoming a reality.
Both Suncor and Greengate still need to seek provincial approval by attaining permits through the Alberta Utilities Commission.
The plateau of grazing and cultivated land being used for the project is northeast of the intersections of Highway 56 and Highway 584, 20-30 kilometres south of Dalum.
The combined projects will power over 80,000 Alberta homes a year.
Greengate’s project alone will offset 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, according to President Dan Balaban.
Flames reached high as an East Coulee trailer home was gutted by fire Tuesday afternoon. The Drumheller Fire Department and the East Coulee Hall, as well as Badlands EMS and Drumheller RCMP, were on scene shortly after 1:30 p.m. as the home at 6th Street in East Coulee spouted smoke across the small community. As fire crews subdued the flames, bystanders said they had seen the resident leave Tuesday morning, and had only observed one of three pets leave the home. Cause of the fire is still under investigation.