electricity

JASPER INTERCONNECTION PROJECT

PROJECT STATUS: IN SERVICE

  • JASPER INTERCONNECTION

    PROJECT OVERVIEW

    The Jasper Interconnection Project is an electricity transmission project that connects Jasper to Alberta’s grid, allowing for safe and reliable electricity for the 5,000 permanent residents and 20,000 daily summer visitors. The line consists of 45 km of 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line within the Park, connected to another new 69-kV transmission line located outside of the Park. It also includes a planned new substation to be located within the existing Palisades Power Plant site, just outside of the Town of Jasper. 

    This project posed numerous topographical, geological and environmental challenges. We were unable to directly embed poles due to the rocky ground conditions and electrical grounding targets. We leveraged our decades of expertise in line design and construction to develop out-of-the-box solutions that met all stakeholder requirements. The line is also the first in North America to use a covered conductor "tree wire” design at 69 kV that allows narrower rights of way by removing the risk of electrical flashover to vegetation.

    From a vegetation management perspective, ATCO undertook targeted activities to meet Parks Canada’s rigorous expectations for weed and invasive plant control. Access matting was the primary strategy to minimize the spread of noxious and non-native plant species. Other initiatives included vehicle and machinery cleaning standards to avoid introducing invasive weeds; detailed pre- and post-construction assessments and mapping of plant communities to detect the introduction and spread of invasive species to new sites; and mapping and operational avoidance of riparian protection and herbicide-free zones.

    BACKGROUND

    UNESCO world heritage site Jasper National Park is an international vacation and exploration destination, renowned as a remote but accessible mountain park and townsite. Jasper was isolated from the province’s electrical power distribution grid and has relied on diesel- and gas-powered generation at the Palisades Power Plant in Jasper. 

    The Palisades Power Plant was nearing the end of its life, presenting an opportunity to evaluate the options of replacing the existing power plant or connecting Jasper to Alberta’s electric grid. We found the latter to be a better option to build a cleaner, more reliable energy future in Jasper and Alberta. 

     

     

    Questions? For more information on this project, contact ATCO toll-free at  

    1-855-420-5775 or by email at consultation@atcoelectric.com

    JASPER PALISADES POWER PLANT DECOMMISSIONING

    The 967 Palisades Power Plant Decommissioning Project consists of the removal of the assets/equipment and reclamation work. The equipment has been disconnected, dismantled and bundled in 11 separate lots in preparation for the sells offering.

    For more information about the sale, contact us at EGBUProcurement@atco.com

    Background:

    The Town of Jasper was supplied power by the 967 Palisades power plant. This plant site has been owned and operated by ATCO for the last 45 years. Since the plant was at its end of life, it was decided to connect Jasper to Alberta’s grid. The Jasper Interconnection Project connected Jasper to Alberta’s electricity system and was completed in May 2019.  As a result of the interconnection, the existing 967 Jasper Palisades Plant has been decommissioned and dismantled. The equipment will be sold following the Alberta Utility Commission (AUC) Sales Process.