New ANC power plant open for business

By Susan Hofforth

The ribbon was officially cut at a ceremony on December 11 declaring the new Alberta Newsprint Company power plant open for business.

It has taken two years since the signing of the contract to reach this point. This represents 215,000 working hours on a project worth $74 million. It is designed to save money and minimize electricity costs. “The plant will be operated as a peaking plant to minimize ANC electricity costs for both immediate demand pricing and minimization of co-incidental peak to minimize transmission charges,” said Gary Smith of ANC.

Premier Jim Prentice was on hand at the event along with other federal and provincial politicians: MLA George Vanderburg, Energy Minister Frank Oberle, Finance minister Robin Campbell, MLA Everett McDonald, Energy Minister Wayne Drysdale, and MP Jim Eglinski. Local politicians included Mayor Jim Rennie and Deputy Mayor Norm Hodgson.