At the end of September 2025, TransAlta Corporation reached an agreement to acquire the Flipi Combined Cycle Power Plant Project (the Project) from Kiwetinohk Energy Corporation (KEC). The Project is a high-efficiency natural gas-fired power generation facility located southwest of Rimbey, Alberta. The combined cycle Project will have a generation capacity of 460 megawatts (MW) and includes modern equipment and emission controls intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants compared to older natural gas facilities. Development and operation of the Project will create local employment, contracting and business opportunities and contribute to economic growth and investment in the region.
The Project will be connected to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES) through a new 240-kilovolt (kV) substation and a short transmission line. This connection would enable electricity generated by the Project to be safely and reliably delivered to homes, businesses and industries across Alberta.
Key Project Features
Capacity: approximately 460 megawatts (MW).
Efficiency: The power plant uses a combined-cycle design, which reuses heat that would otherwise be lost to produce extra electricity. This efficient approach helps the facility use less fuel and generate fewer emissions than simple cycle natural gas plants.
Environmental Performance: The plant’s design includes modern equipment and emission controls intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants compared to older natural gas facilities.
Project Location: The Project will be located on privately owned, cultivated land approximately 18 km southwest of Rimbey, Alberta in Clearwater County. The site was chosen to minimize new land disturbance, avoid environmentally sensitive areas and to make efficient use of existing nearby natural gas and transmission infrastructure.
Economic Benefits: Development and operation of the Project will create local employment, contracting and business opportunities, and contribute to economic growth and investment in the region.
TransAlta is committed to responsible project development. The Project is being designed to meet all provincial, and where applicable, federal environmental and regulatory standards for the lifecycle of the Project.
Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC): In February 2025 the Project applied to the AUC pursuant to Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations and Hydro Developments for approval to construct and operate the Project and associated substation and transmission line. From January 12-14, 2026, TransAlta participated in the public hearing for the Flipi Combined Cycle Power Plant Project. On April 14, 2026, the AUC formally approved the Project.
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA): The Project received a draft Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (“EPEA”) approval 506872-00-00 from AEPA on July 30, 2025. This draft approval sets out potential conditions and requirements for the construction, operation and reclamation of the Project. These conditions include limits on specific emissions streams, monitoring and sampling requirements, lists of equipment, point source emissions locations and other limits (e.g. stack heights).
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada: In December 2025 TransAlta submitted an Initial Project Description to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (“IAAC”). In February 2026, TransAlta received and responded to a Summary of Key Issues from IAAC. On March 4, 2026, the IAAC issued a notification to TransAlta that no further assessment was required for the proposed Flipi Gas-Fired Generation Project.
Municipal Requirements: TransAlta will coordinate with Clearwater County, Ponoka County and Lacombe County to obtain any necessary development and building permits to ensure the Project aligns with local bylaws and land-use planning requirements.
Regulatory Update
Contact Us
We’d like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone that took the time to attend our public open house at the Peter Lougheed Community Centre in November 2025. The event was attended by approximately 30 people and provided an opportunity for interested parties to ask questions about the Project.
Feedback received was considered in regulatory proceedings for the Project, including the Initial Project Description submitted to the IAAC in December 2025 and at the AUC public hearing for the Project in January 2026.
TransAlta continues to evaluate the Flipi Gas-Fired Generation Project, including continued Project definition and consideration of feedback received from stakeholders. Our email inbox and phone number remain open to receive your feedback. To discuss the Project, please reach out to us at the contact below.
James Graham
Senior Advisor, Stakeholder and Indigenous Relations
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 1-877-547-3365, Ext 1
