A hearing has been scheduled to consider an application to build a 25-megawatt solar plant north of Drumheller.

  Kneehill Solar LP, a joint venture between ATCO Power and Samsung C&T has applied to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to construct and operate the Michichi Solar Generation  Facility.

The project will be situated approximately 320 acres of privately owned agriculture land about one kilometere northwest of Drumheller.

The project will require about 85,000 to 100,000 solar panels and will require up to 10 medium voltage stations to house solar invertors.

The DC power sent from the solar arrays will be sent to the inverters to convert the electricity to AC. The transformers will step up the electricity to 25 Kilovolts and put it on the grid through existing distribution lines.

The project has the potential to generate about 44,000-megawatt hours annually, which is enough to power an average of approximately 6,000 households.

The Notice of Hearing was on May 31,  an information session was held at the Badlands Community Facility on June 20. The hearing is scheduled for August 27.

For those wishing to participate in the hearing and present written evidence, they must be present at the commencement of the hearing and submit written evidence by July 25.

Those wishing to participate in the hearing can go to www.auc.ab.ca and log into the e-filing system, go to proceeding 24363 and register to participates under the ‘registered parties’ tab.

For more information about participating in this proceeding, contact Conrad Dalsin at 403-592-3281 or email questions to conrad.dalsin@auc.ab.ca.

A Drumheller man was sentenced to 16 months globally for charges that include assault and uttering threats.

Patrick Kimmel appeared via closed-circuit television in provincial court in Drumheller on Friday, June 14. He pleaded guilty to a number of charges dating back to February of last year.

The court heard that on  February 7, 2018, Kimmel assaulted a man with an iron bar, fracturing his forearm.

Kimmel also pleaded guilty to uttering a threat, possession of brass knuckles and wearing a disguise with intent. On April 6, he was on the roof of the old hospital on Riverside Drive, when he threatened people on the ground. He was wearing a balaclava and in possession of brass knuckles.

On May 4  Kimmel was arrested after he assaulted a person by spraying bear spray through an open car window.  He fled, but police apprehended him and seized brass knuckles. While he was at the detachment he caused wilful damage by smashing the phone and the wall.

  The crown and defense agreed on a joint submission of 16 months. He was given pre-trial custody credit and has 14 months remaining to serve.