Willow Ridge Wind Project gets Alberta Utilities Commission approval

The Alberta Utilities Commission approved a wind project just south of Fort Macleod, but the approval hasn’t come without opposition.

The Willow Ridge Wind Project is set to have 28 turbines about seven kilometres south of Fort Macleod.

The project was approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in early May.

Nearby residents and the MD of Willow Creek have expressed concerns over the project.

Anti-wind advocates believe the province and utilities commission need to listen more to the opinions of those living near proposed projects.

“I think any rural Albertan who is part of a community where there’s slated, potentially, a wind project in their backyard is very concerned by this decision because we’ve been ignored so far,” said Mark Mallet, Wind Concerns editor in chief.

“And a lot of these projects are simply being rubber stamped.”

The project is expected to break ground in 2026 and be operational by late 2027.