Morinville

CanWest Solar Development Corp (CanWest) and Starlight Energy (Starlight) are proposing to construct and operate a clean and efficient power generation facility to help address Alberta's ongoing need for renewable energy. The project is located northwest of Morinville on privately owned land.

Proposed Timeline:

Environmental Studies Completed Oct 2022

Open House February, 2023

Re-Engagement Activities November, 2024

Estimated Regulatory Application March 2025

Estimated Construction Start 1 Q3 2026

Estimated In-Service Date 1 Q4 2027

*Subject to regulatory approval

Noise Impact Assessment

A Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) was conducted to assess the Project’s compliance with AUC Rule 012 (2024). The assessment compared cumulative sound levels with the permissible sound levels (PSL) set in the AUC Rule 012 at potentially affected dwellings.

As discussed in the January 2023 open house, the noise modelling results show that the Project’s predicted noise levels are below the PSLs for both the day and night-time periods. Based on AUC Rule 012, the PSL is 40 dB(A) for a Category 1 5 dwelling during the night (10 pm to 7 am) and 50 dB(A) during the daytime (7 am to 10 pm). The results of the model indicate that the predicted noise contribution from the Project at the most affected dwelling will be 28.3 dB(A), which is well below the PSL for both daytime and night-time periods. The expected cumulative sound levels will not exceed the PSL at the locations of the nearest

Electrical Interconnection

The Project will connect to Fortis Alberta's distribution system via a short connection constructed by Fortis Alberta.

Land Suitability Classification

The Project was assessed using the Land Suitability Rating System (LSRS), which integrates soil, climate, and landscape factors to calculate a classed suitability rating for a given land area to support commercial field crop production. The Operational Project Footprint 6 overlaps two landscape polygons that are both primarily Class 4, 7 indicating limitation to the soil’s suitability for agriculture.

Agricultural Impact Assessment & Irrigability Assessment

On February 28, 2024, the Government of Alberta issued new policy guidance regarding renewable energy development on agricultural lands. According to this guidance, any renewable energy project proposed on lands classified as LSRS Class 1 or Class 2 must demonstrate the feasibility of coexisting agricultural operations, including crops and/or livestock, alongside renewable energy generation. The Electric Energy Land Use and Visual Assessment Regulation was recently introduced to implement this policy. While co-location of agricultural activities is not applicable to this Project due to the dominant Class 4 LSRS rating,

the Proponent has chosen to voluntarily develop an Agrivoltaics Assessment Plan as best practice to identify opportunities for agricultural activities, such as livestock grazing. As part of the mixed-use agrivoltaics plan, some of the Project area may be revegetated with a perennial seed mix that will provide forage for livestock.

The irrigation information provided to the Commission will encompass a comprehensive evaluation of several key factors, including the presence of any irrigation infrastructure on Project lands, proximity to irrigation infrastructure, and information relating to any private irrigation water licenses relevant to the Project Consideration will also be given to the opinions and recommendations from the relevant irrigation district, where applicable, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the potential for effective irrigation on the land in question.

Reclamation

Reclamation is specifically addressed in the lease agreement with the Project landowner. The Conservation and Reclamation Regulation (2023) of Alberta outlines the reclamation requirements for disturbed land and defines the standard as returning the land to an equivalent land capability. This includes the removal of all above ground and below ground Project components.

The Proponent is developing a Conceptual Reclamation and Conservation Plan to describe approaches undertaken during the decommissioning phase of the Project. It is the Proponent’s intention that much of the infrastructure will be either reused or recycled for metal scrap including the racking, inverters and transformers, fencing, and above ground collector lines. Gravel and aggregate used for laydown and access roads will also be recycled. The Proponent will take advantage of any future advancements in PV Panel reuse and recycling technology towards the end of project life.

Solar Glare Assessment

The Proponent has completed a solar glare assessment for the Project, which shows that glare will be a minor issue during the spring, summer, and fall. Any glare potentially affecting residences will be brief, lasting less than 30 minutes. The assessment uses a worst-case scenario approach by assuming no screening or barriers from existing trees, blinds, window orientations, or other mitigating factors. Furthermore, the assessment does not consider additional screening that the Proponent is proposing to install. Glare will be negligible for passing drivers, and the sun's direct glare will likely have a greater impact. The solar glare assessment concluded that no further mitigations are required to address glare impacts.

However, as previously mentioned, the Proponent plans to install vegetative screening in selected areas of the site to further reduce potential reflection from the Project. Further details specific to the site will be communicated to the affected parties during our ongoing consultation process.

Environmental Studies

All proposed solar projects in Alberta must submit a detailed assessment of environmental conditions to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) in the form of a Renewable Energy Submission Report (RESR). These assessments include year long wildlife studies, surveys for sensitive (vegetation and wildlife) species, as well as wetland and wildlife habitat mapping. AEPA subsequently reviews the studies and provides a risk-ranking in which they quantify the risk that the project poses to the environment. A RESR was issued to AEPA, and the resulting Renewable Energy Referral Report issued on June 14, 2023, by AEPA concluded that the Project posed a low risk to wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Viewscapes

The AUC requires Proponents to assess ‘valued’ viewscapes, which it defines as national parks, provincial parks, culturally significant areas, and areas used for recreation and tourism. A desktop review identified a number of these possible viewscapes. In all cases, the distance to these areas, combined with visual obstruction in the landscapes in-between the areas, and the proposed Project scope and scale, do not support the need for any visual mitigation. While existing policy and regulations do not require visual mitigations in the Project area, the Proponent is voluntarily planning to install vegetative screening in selected areas of the site to further reduce potential visual impacts of the Project.

Property Value Impacts

The available research on the impact of commercial solar developments on property values presents varied conclusions. While some studies report a minor effect, other studies find no significant impact at all. Most of this research has been conducted in urban environments with higher population densities, which differ considerably from typical rural areas. Importantly, there have been no studies indicating an impact from commercial solar developments on property values of adjacent farmland. While some studies report modest effects in urban environments with higher population density, key considerations influencing these impacts include the distance to the solar development and visibility, which can be influenced by

topography, screening, and orientation. The Proponent is proposing vegetative screening to alleviate potential property value impacts by providing enhanced privacy and reducing the visibility of solar installations.

Weed Management

A Weed Management Plan will be implemented to prevent the spread of noxious weeds.

Stormwater Management/Drainage

A stormwater management plan will ensure post-development runoff matches pre-development levels.

Construction Considerations

The Proponent will work with Sturgeon County to minimize construction impacts like dust and noise.

Community Engagement and Benefits: CanWest and Starlight value the long-term benefits of working with the local community. If the Morinville Solar Project is approved and constructed, the local community is expected to benefit from:

• Local spending during the construction and operations;

• Employment opportunities during construction and operations; and

• Tax revenues to Sturgeon County.

  
  

About CanWest and Starlight: CanWest is a local solar project developer who works with landowners and community members to build solar farms that deliver clean power to the grid. Starlight is a member of NextEnergy Group, an international investor of renewable energy assets with more than 1.3GWp of solar assets in operation over 330 solar plants.

CanWest and Starlight believe every renewable energy project is the beginning of a lasting partnership with the local community. As part of our consultation activities, we work closely with community members to identify areas of interest and concern as we seek to finalize our project. We are committed to open communication and dialogue, which we believe will ultimately result in a development that reflects the value of the community. Please feel free to contact us at the number listed below if you would like any more information.

Marc Stachiw

Director, Morinville Solar STL Inc.

403-880-4939

marc.stachiw@starlight-energy.com

Don Scantland 

Vice President, Lands and Community Engagement 

CanWest Solar Development Corporation 

780-242-7621 

don@canwestsolar.com