AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-07

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Wind farm proposed for Halkirk area

Windswept fields near Halkirk have come one step closer to capturing energy from the air.

Calgary-based Greengate Power Corp. met recently with citizens of the County of Paintearth to discuss its plans for building a 300-megawatt wind farm in the Halkirk area.

Greengate CEO Dan Balaban said on Thursday that the Halkirk meeting attracted more than 60 people who could be affected by the project.

"Generally speaking, there was enthusiasm for the project. I think people are quite excited about it," said Balaban.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...lkirk_area.html

 

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Gull Lake subdivision

Groundwork is underway on a new residential subdivision on the northwest side of Gull Lake, opposite the Gull Lake Golf Course near the intersection of Secondary Hwy 771 and Parkland Beach Road.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...ubdivision.html

 

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Electric utility rate hike approved

City of Medicine Hat electric utility customers will be paying more starting August 1, following city council`s approval of rate hikes Monday night.

Approval of the electric rate bylaw amendment for electric commodity rates will see rates increase to 9.09 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), from 8.03 cents per kWh, for residential and small and medium commercial customers. Large commercial and industrial customer rates will rise to 7.78 cents per kWh, from 6.21 cents per kWh.

The monthly "average customer" impact will see residential rates increase about $7.34. Small commercial will increase a monthly average of $13.84 and medium commercial will increase by about $194.32 monthly.

http://www.medicinehatnews.com/index.php?o...3&Itemid=65

 

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Major pot bust in Brooks

A suburban home in Brooks has been condemned since police uncovered a sophisticated marijuana grow operation in its basement Friday. In the largest bust of a grow-op in Brooks history, police seized more than 500 marijuana plants and took five adults into custody. Three children were also located at the residence and were taken into the care of Alberta Children and Family Services. Brooks RCMP are withholding the names of the adults pending the swearing of formal charges.

http://www.medicinehatnews.com/index.php?o...2&Itemid=27

 

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Montana still a hotspot for Albertans

EDMONTON - Developers from Alberta headed south of the border to Whitefish, Montana, to build condominiums at the Whitefish ski hill when the Canadian dollar was strong in the 1970s.

"Back then, Canadians created a market for Canadians," says real estate broker Pat Donovan of Iron Horse Properties in Whitefish. Donovan says that with today`s resurgence of the strong Canadian dollar, Canadians are responding to markets versus creating them.

"Many Albertans are returning, less as developers, more as investors, people looking to buy a condo on the ski hill, a lakeside home or for somewhere to build, and some have been here the whole time," Donovan says.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...fa-d1d21543ffba

 

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Albertans looking East for a change

CALGARY - When Albertans think of buying recreation property in Canada, they usually look first to the mountains of this province or further west into British Columbia.

But as land prices skyrocket in these well-tapped areas, many buyers and investors from this part of the world are starting to turn east and look toward Manitoba.

Just ask B. Chad Olafson, whose Narrows West development at the midpoint of Lake Manitoba, about two hours northwest of Winnipeg, has attracted substantial interest from Alberta investors.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...71-89c845cb607b

 

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It`s good to the last straw

EDMONTON - If `straw bale houses` conjures up images of the three little pigs, look again. Straw bale construction is not a new idea, but it is definitely more refined and sophisticated than it was 13 years ago when straw bale construction consultant John Gonzales began his research.

"I was a permaculture specialist looking for ways to decrease farmyard waste. Burning straw was common practice and an incredible amount of waste and pollution, so we decided to try building with bales," says Gonzales from his office near Nelson, B.C.

Gonzales says that though straw bale construction may be very popular in Arizona, the building principles down south are often not much use for Canadians.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...9a-2a1bc58fd6bb

 

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Local tourism could take a capital plunge -- mayor

Edmonton does not promote itself enough as Alberta`s capital city, and it`s time to change that, says Mayor Stephen Mandel.

"I think in the past we haven`t done enough to position ourselves as -- this is a great place for all Albertans to visit," Mandel said Monday. "It`s their capital city and we have to do more to encourage that and be responsive to that fact.

"People visit capital cities because they are capitals."

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...a1-c580cbfe3a9c

 

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Residents prepare for plant battle

Fearful of a second straight summer of dark, smelly clouds escaping from a northwest asphalt plant, residents are warning they may take extreme measures to ensure the sky over their homes remains clear.

The plant, on the city`s periphery at 85 St. N.W., is set to begin operations later this month to produce asphalt for the northwest leg of Calgary`s ring road, using recycled oil to power it, something that has residents crying foul as they prepare for a public meeting today. Dawn Stewart, whose Royal Oak home is in the shadow of the asphalt plant, says she is so incensed by the move to continue using dirty oil to operate it, the four-months-pregnant woman is contemplating chaining herself to the front gate to prevent work from starting.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2008/0...095896-sun.html

 

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New casino proves a hit with patrons

Stampede Casino is still wet behind the ears, having opened nary a month ago at its new location.

But judging from the action going on inside, Calgary`s newest gaming and entertainment centre showcase is already a big hit with patrons.

"We opened on a Thursday and right through that weekend it was absolute gangbusters," said Dawn LaPeare, director of communications, Stampede Casino.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...37-f0848bb2dbac

 

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Energy setbacks a blip, say analysts

Both oil and natural gas prices fell Monday although observers said energy would soon continue its relentless march higher.

Benchmark American crude fell below $140 US per barrel for the first time since June 30 before recovering to $141.37, down $3.92 on the day.

Likewise, natural gas closed below $13 US per million British thermal units for the first time since June 25 after forecasters said hurricane Bertha would miss production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...4c-049ca3fe15f7

 

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Alberta building permits trimmed

The level of building permits in Alberta eased in May compared with April, but analysts say the relative stability of construction plans at high values in this province bode well for the future and evidence a strong economy.

Statistics Canada said Monday the value of building permits issued across Wild Rose Country in the fifth month of the year slipped 3.7 per cent to $1.2 billion. Ontario, at $2.5 billion, was the only province with higher activity.

"We`re coming back to a more sustainable, healthy, strong economic performance level and the building permits are a reflection of that," commented Calgary Economic Development chief economist Adam Legge.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...31-55d76ba61337

 

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Facelift planned for St. Patrick`s

St. Patrick`s Community School will be getting a facelift.

The Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division board approved a tender for the project at a special meeting on Friday.

Red Deer-based Timcon Construction will be doing the renovations to the exterior of the building at a cost of $502,000.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...t_Patricks.html

 

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Planners back new station

Red Deer`s proposed downtown police station has received a qualified thumbs-up from the city`s municipal planning commission. City council will now ponder the project, including its projected price tag of nearly $30 million.

The municipal planning commission voted on Monday to give site development approval for the two-storey structure and exercise its discretionary authority to allow a police station at the 4602 51st Ave. site.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...ew_station.html

 

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Battling urban sprawl

BLACKFALDS — Concerned property owners came from all over the area on Monday to enjoy a burger and plan how to convince a municipality that more planning is needed before urban sprawl occurs.

Many plan to attend a Lacombe County public meeting on Thursday to protest plans they say are premature.

As many as 50,000 people could move into the rural area identified for high growth between Lacombe and Blackfalds during the next 20 to 30 years, say planners. The proposed plan covers about 40 quarter sections of land between the two towns, east of Hwy 2 and along Hwy 2A.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...ban_sprawl.html

 

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Forestry companies prepare battle plan

Anyone who has driven through British Columbia`s forests lately has seen the devastation caused by the mountain pine beetle.

The voracious beetle has infested 33.4 million acres of lodgepole pine in the province — an area more than four times the size of Vancouver Island. It is expected to kill four out of five mature pines and cause billions of dollars in economic damage.

And the bugs are coming here.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...attle_plan.html

 

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Rural residents to get access to fast Internet

A new initiative that will give rural residents in Central Alberta access to high-speed Internet and video conferencing will be launched in September.

The technology will eventually be offered at 12 community engagement sites around Central Alberta, and will often be set up in schools.

Allan Tarnoczi, the community engagement site project manager, said he sees potential for it opening up options for rural residents and companies.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...t_Internet.html

 

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Rotary plaza bringing life to Galt Gardens

It wasn`t that long ago an idyllic scene of children splashing and playing, families picnicking and people strolling in Galt Gardens might have seemed like a hopeless fantasy.
Such scenes have been a daily reality, however, since the opening in late June of the Rotary Centennial Plaza fountains. Long a popular hangout for the city`s street population and largely avoided by the public, Galt Gardens is quickly becoming a popular destination thanks to the new water feature.
The rapid transformation has surpassed the expectations of downtown stakeholders, said Ted Stilson, managing co-ordinator of Downtown Lethbridge.

http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11310.php

 

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Stelmach pledges $4B to cut emissions

EDMONTON - The Alberta government will spend $4 billion to help slash greenhouse gas emissions as Premier Ed Stelmach`s government strives to improve its environmental credentials amid heightened Canadian and international scrutiny.

Two billion dollars will go to bolster public transit, to help cities buy new buses, build expanded train systems and construct park-and-ride lots.

The other $2 billion will go to projects that capture industrial greenhouse gas emissions and store them underground, the cornerstone of a climate-change strategy critics have warned relies too heavily on technology.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...09-03c2029c911f

 

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First-time buyers catch a break in housing deal

Mayor Stephen Mandel says a city program to get more first-time buyers into new homes is aimed at a group that seems to have been overlooked in the local housing crisis -- the typical wage-earner.

Under the new program announced Tuesday, 85 townhouses in the Greenview and Canon Ridge communities will be sold at a cut rate to qualified first-time home buyers. The First Place program helps buyers by providing them with a five-year deferral on land payments.

Land values will account for $30,000 and $35,000 of the purchase price, said Terry Loat, manager of the city`s housing branch.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...bd-ba5bb46ee021