Two more Albreda-area hydro projects planned(Continued from A1) The pipe is manufactured in Sas-katoon and shipped in pieces on the backs of semi-trailers to the site near Blue River. Each 9-mw turbine is being shipped from Slovenia. Construction workers are us-ing existing logging roads, which means the company can keep their “footprint” light, says Doreen John-son, project manager. Clemina Creek and Serpentine Creek, sister projects to Bone Creek, are being examined as future sites for two more hydro plants. Bone Creek was given the go-ahead first, partly because it is the largest and because of the existing roads. The other two were put on hold, but are still being evaluated. “Conditions changed on the power situation and the econom-ic downturn,” Johnson says. “But they’re definitely on the books. They are active projects that we’re moving ahead on.” Clemina and Serpentine com-bined would produce about half the

amount of power as Bone Creek. The idea would be to bring their power into the Bone Creek trans-mission lines, since they are only a few kilometres away. Blue River has seen increased busi-ness since the construction began, says John Beaton, chairman of the Blue River improvement district. Some construction jobs at Bone Creek are still available. Qualified labourers can apply to the Bone Creek TransAlta office or to the contractors directly.

A4 Tuesday, June 08, 2010 www.therockymountaingoat.com

Construction workers unload a pipe that will be used for the 6 kilometre-long chute, funnelling water from the creek into the power house.Laura Keil, The RMG

Above: Bone Creek rushes underneath a road near the construction of the power house.

Left: the construction of the power house six kilometres from the intake mouth where the stream enters the pipe.

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