Legal

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 8 km west of Legal on privately owned land.

Proposed Timeline:

Environmental Studies Completed Oct 2022

Open House February, 2023

Regulatory Application August 2024

Re-Engagement Activities January, 2025

Estimated Construction Start 1 Q3 2026

Estimated In-Service Date 1 Q4 2027

*Subject to regulatory approval

Environmental Studies

All 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. This evaluation includes wildlife studies throughout the year, surveys for sensitive species, and wetlands and wildlife habitat mapping. AEPA reviews the studies and provides a risk-ranking in which they quantify the risk that the project poses to the environment. The Renewable Energy Referral Report issued by AEPA concluded that the Project poses a low risk to wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Noise

A Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) was conducted to assess the Project’s compliance with AUC Rule 012 (2021). 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 February 2023 open house, the noise modelling results show that the Project’s predicted noise levels are below the Permissible Sound Levels (PSLs) for both the day and night time periods. The assessment also concluded that the expected cumulative noise levels will not surpass the permissible sound level limits at the nearest dwellings,

confirming the Project’s compliance with AUC Rule 012.

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. 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 requirement 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 

The Proponent will develop a Weed Management Plan to prevent the spread of noxious weeds regulated under the Weed Control Act. Measures will be in place during construction, operation, and decommissioning phases of the Project. Best management practices and mitigation measures will be applied including regular cleaning of construction equipment and vehicles, and clear delineation of work areas. Furthermore, the Proponent will be responsible for ongoing weed control and will be available to discuss any weed management concerns from the public during the operational life of the Project.

Stormwater Management/Drainage

A dedicated stormwater management plan will be prepared prior to construction and submitted to Sturgeon County as part of the Development Permit application. Stormwater planning will be based on the principle of managing post-development runoff to pre-development levels. The Proponent is committed to ensuring the Project does not increase the post-development runoff characteristics of the site and will implement appropriate mitigation measures to address runoff related risks.

Electrical Interconnection: The project will be connected to the existing Altalink transmission system located approximately 7 km east of the project site. The connection between the project substation and the transmission system will be completed by Altalink Management Ltd., as a separate project.

Public Involvement: 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.

Community Engagement and Benefits: CanWest and Starlight value the long-term benefits of working with the local community. If the Legal 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.

Construction Considerations: CanWest and Starlight will work with Sturgeon County during construction planning to minimize potential impacts such as dust, noise, and increased traffic. Our current plans are to access the site from existing township and range roads adjacent to the boundary of the proposed project.

Ongoing Engagement

As part of our consultation activities, we will be contacting stakeholders within 400 meters of the Project boundary and offer to review these findings in a personal consultation.

If you fall outside of the personal consultation zone and have further questions or wish to review any of the Project information, please feel free to contact us at the number listed below. Information can also be accessed on the Project website at www.legalsolar.ca

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, Legal 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