Land and Biodiversity
ENMAX Power’s operations are concentrated largely within Calgary city limits, and at times may be in close proximity to city parks, rivers and streams. As the city grows, power lines and substations are installed in more undeveloped areas. As of 2009, ENMAX Power owns and maintains 2,387 km of overhead distribution lines and 266 km of overhead transmission lines; 5,136 km of underground circuit lines and 15 km of underground transmission lines in and around Calgary.
To avoid negatively impacting land, habitat or water bodies, ENMAX Power reviews the environmental aspects of construction projects and performs due diligence to protect the biodiversity of an area. One of the tools used in this process is a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), which provides environmental protection measures required for specific projects. This planning approach was successfully applied to the transmission line rebuild in the Weaselhead Park and to the distribution line construction to the South Health Campus.
ENMAX Energy conducts several types of environmental studies to assess areas considered for development of a power plant. These assessments identify sensitive areas where environmental mitigation or controls are required.
Landscaping the Crossfield Energy Centre
ENMAX's Crossfield Energy Centre began operating in 2009. During the consultation process for this facility in 2008, several residents' concerns about the visual impact of the plant led to requests for stakeholder feedback on a landscaping plan. ENMAX Energy engaged a local arborist/landscaper who hired trained students from Olds College. As a result, a detailed landscaping plan was submitted to the local Municipal District of Rocky View as part of the development permit. The plan was shared via newsletter with stakeholders, who were invited to comment. A variety of native trees, shrubs, rockery and ground cover will integrate the facility into the surrounding landscape, while serving as a natural noise buffer and will be completed in early 2010.