300 MW wind farm to be built near Carmangay

"The Calgary-based Greengate Power Corp. said Thursday it has received provincial approval to build Canada's largest wind farm.

Construction on the Blackspring Ridge I project is expected to begin in 2012, with operation slated to begin in 2013. Once complete, the project is expected to be Canada's largest operating wind energy project with a total generating capacity of 300 megawatts.

The project is located near the community of Carmangay, Alta., approximately 165 kilometres southeast of Calgary."

Read more:

 http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Firm+gets+build+Canada+biggest+wind+farm/4422411/story.html#ixzz1HSDR37Xy

BC, Montana and partners unite to sustain Flathead

The Province of British Columbia has signed an agreement to sustain environmental values in the Flathead Valley, and will introduce legislation to support the 2010 MOU on Environmental Protection, Climate Action and Energy with the State of Montana.

Read the press release here.

Amended land-use Act addresses landowner concerns

Earlier this week, the Government of Alberta introduced Bill 10, the Alberta Land Stewardship Amendment Act, "to clarify the original intent of the legislation - to plan for the future needs of Albertans and manage growth, while respecting existing property rights. 

Bill 10, the Alberta Land Stewardship Amendment Act will create a review process for people who believe they are directly and adversely affected by a regional plan. It will also require public consultation during planning and that draft regional plans be provided to the Legislature before being approved."

Read the press release and the Backgrounder summarizing the highlights of Bill 10 here.

You can view the Bill here.

Click here for a Globe and Mail article on the proposed amendments and property rights debate.

GeoDiscover Alberta - new geospatial database launched

The Government of Alberta has launched the new GeoDiscover Alberta spatial database portal, providing access to more than 140 layers of free land-related data and services.

The GeoDiscover Alberta portal provides "a single window to search and find the credible, up-to-date information needed to better manage activities on the landscape and is the most comprehensive program of its kind in Alberta. The data and map services come from various Alberta government ministries and agencies and include:

• Administrative Boundaries (provincial boundary, electoral divisions, Land-use Framework Regions)
• Alberta Township System (ATS)
• Access (major highways, secondary highways/roads, cutlines)
• Cadastral (urban and rural)
• Mineral Agreements (petroleum and natural gas, oil sands, metallic and industrial minerals, coal)
• Utilities (pipelines, power lines and access facilities)
• Land-Use Management
• First Nations land
• Parks and protected areas
• Land-use Framework regional planning maps and data

Sharing geospatial information will enhance land and resource stewardship and improve service delivery to Albertans. For example, Land-use Framework planners can access information through GeoDiscover Alberta to shape regional plans. Sharing data also brings time and cost savings—users don’t have to look in multiple places for information. Please visit the GeoDiscover Alberta portal www.geodiscoveralberta.ca to explore the data and services, training materials and frequently asked questions. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the portal, please take the time to complete the feedback survey so we can make the portal even better to suit your needs. This is just the beginning, and GeoDiscover Alberta will evolve with time. Current partners include the departments of Energy, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development as well as the Land Use Secretariat and Energy Resources Conservation Board. As more ministries and agencies join GeoDiscover Alberta, there will be more information and tools available for all sectors."

Alberta to launch new oil and gas sector regulator

From the Globe and Mail, Friday January 28, 2011:

"The Alberta government is working to create a single body to regulate oil and gas development for the province, a major shift that promises to speed approval of new wells and oil sands projects by months."

The new single-window regulator would also assume responsibility for environmental assessments and water licencing for the sector.

Read the full article here.