Federal Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson was on hand on Tuesday, July 11 to help cut the ribbon to mark the beginning of operations for the Michichi and Kneehill Solar projects.
He was joined by Capstone CEO David Eva and VP Capital Project Execution for Capstone, Mathew Hanna, as well as Darren Rousch of Keyera Corporation, and Starland Reeve Steve Wannstrom.
“This is related not only to what is happening in Canada but around the world. In all the advanced economies, we are in a race to reduce carbon emissions. That is about ensuring we have a sustainable future for our children, but it is also about seizing the economic opportunities that can be enabled through a transition to a low-carbon future,” said Wilkinson.
Michichi and Kneehill Solar will also provide property tax revenue of an estimated $8 million to both Starland and Kneehill County over the operational life of the projects. Each project will offset approximately 30,000 metric tonnes of CO2 each year.
“With Capstone, this takes us to 38 operating facilities, 825 megawatts coast to coast,” said Hanna.
“We benefit from world-class wind, we benefit from world-class sun, a market that functions and allows companies to decarbonize their own efforts,” said Eva.
The power and environmental attributes generated from Michichi Solar will be sold to Keyera Corporation, one of the largest midstream oil and gas operators in Canada.
“With this commercial facility now in operation, we are the sole purchaser of all the power coming from this Michichi solar facility that represents around nine per cent of our annual consumption for all of Keyera for our commercial energy usage,” said Rousch.
Sawridge First Nation, a Cree people who are an original signatory to Treaty No. 8, is an equity partner for both the Michichi and Kneehill Solar projects.
Minister Wilkinson said much of the push is industry-driven.
“Industry is leading a lot of these developments of renewable energy resources… and we are wanting to work with industry to move this forward, create jobs, and create economic opportunity,” he said. “I think the federal government and the province haven’t always been on the same page in terms of the timelines and stuff, and we are working on trying to figure out a pathway through which we can have a more constructive conversation,” said Wilkinson.

Strathmore RCMP along with various partner organizations, have made a large seizure following the execution of a search warrant at a rural property in Rocky View County.
On Monday, July 10 at approximately 10 a.m., Strathmore RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) with the Rocky View County enhanced policing member executed a search warrant at a rural property on Glenmore View Road in Rocky View County.
“This search, seizure, and arrest of involved individuals was a result of the cumulative work of our General Investigation Section and Enhanced Rocky View County position to remove contraband products from our communities,” said Strathmore RCMP Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Mark Wielgosz.
The search was aided by the RCMP Emergency Response Team, Strathmore General Duty members, Drumheller RCMP GIS, and an Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) investigator).
The search resulted in the arrest of three individuals and seizure of but not limited to:
Four firearms consisting of a rifle, shotgun, carbine style rifle, and an automatic carbine style rifle with an extended capacity magazine and silencer;
Ammunition;
328 cartons, or approximately 65,600 illegal cigarettes;
150 packages of edible Cannabis products each containing milligrams of THC (as printed on the label);
Approximately 1,000 illegal Cannabis cigarettes;
Approximately three litres of what is believed to be liquid THC;
Approximately 150 grams of Psilocybin (mushrooms);
Approximately 50 grams of dried Cannabis;
More than 300 grams of suspected Cannabis Hash product;
Several boxes of Cannabis vaping devices; and
More than $5,000 in cash.
A 40 year old male, 30 year old female, and another 24 year old female, all residents of Rocky View County, were transported to the Strathmore Detachment. All were interviewed and released to appear on a later date at the Alberta Court of Justice in Strathmore to face several charges including but not limited to:
Unsafe Storage of a Firearm X 4;
Possession of a Prohibited Firearm or Device X 6;
Unlawful Possession of Cannabis;
Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Trafficking;
Sell, Transport, or Possession of Contraband Tobacco;
Possession of Psilocybin;
Fraud over $5,000;
Possession of more than 1,200 cigarettes not marked for tax or paid sale (Tobacco Tax Act);
Possession of more than 2,000 grams of tobacco (Tobacco Tax Act); and
Possess or sell more than 1,000 cigarettes (Tobacco Tax Act).
The investigation is ongoing and more charges may be laid as a result.