Stage 1: Determining possible locations
When determining suitable substation locations, many factors are considered. For the Project, a site selection criterion was developed based on the requirements outlined in Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations, Hydro Developments and Gas Utility Pipelines (2022). To find suitable areas of interest, and in consideration of the siting criteria, desktop mapping, and siting analysis considered the following factors:
| Factor (Constraint) | Example |
| Agricultural impacts |
Field operations and impacts to existing or future irrigation or development |
| Environmental impacts | Clearing of habitat or vegetation removal, disturbance of wetlands, proximity or disturbance of wildlife features or environmentally sensitive areas |
| Residential impacts | Proximity to residences, future development constraints, tree cover, or access restrictions |
| Technical requirements | Proximity to existing and future customer load growth, engineering, reliability, proximity to existing infrastructure, avoiding conflicts with the Airport Instrument Landing System |
| Cost | Construction, land acquisition, potential impact to rate payers |
| Visual impacts | Residential views |
| Special Considerations | Historical resource sites, Crown land, proximity to campground, etc. |
March 26, 2024: In response to common siting questions and comments received throughout Stage 1 engagement activities, additional information regarding the initial site identification criteria considered for the MHSS project has been added under Project Materials.
