BPC - a Black & Veatch and PCL Construction Joint Venture - To Help Alberta Transition to a Lower-carbon Energy Future

Joint venture selected as EPC provider for construction of 900-MW gas-fired Cascade Power Plant in support of province’s decarbonization goals
Sep 21, 2020 10:00 AM ET

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. September 21, 2020 /3BL Media/ – BPC, a joint venture between Black & Veatch and PCL Industrial Management, has been selected to construct a 900-megawatt (MW), low-carbon natural gas combined cycle generating facility in Alberta under an EPC contract with Alberta-based developer Kineticor Resource Corp. BPC, which has a proven track record of delivering critical engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, will help the Canadian province pursue decarbonization by transitioning away from coal-fired power.

The Cascade Power Plant, which will be located southwest of Edson, Alberta, is expected to help lead the province’s transition to a lower-carbon future by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from traditional power generation. The plant will rely on two SCC6-8000H gas turbines in a single-shaft combined cycle configuration with air-cooled condensers provided by Siemens Energy to offer a highly efficient, low-emissions power supply that should satisfy 8 percent of the province’s average power demand.

“Pairing Black & Veatch’s deep expertise in EPC and natural gas power generation with PCL’s position as the most experienced constructor in Alberta created a winning combination,” said Andrew Plaunt, CEO of Kineticor. “We’re pleased to have these two industry leaders on board, as this project will provide enormous benefit to the environment and the local economy.”

The project is strategically situated near high-voltage transmission lines and significant natural gas production, including Western Canada’s extensive NGTL System, which collects and transports gas from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB).

Construction will start immediately, and commercial operations are expected to commence in 2023. With more than 3 million labor hours required for construction, the project will benefit the local economy by creating approximately 600 jobs during peak construction and 25 long-term positions during operation.

“Our client Kineticor sought a power plant solution that would allow them to deliver cleaner energy to the residents of Alberta, fulfilling a growing need to decarbonize their energy supply across the province,” said Mario Azar, president of Black & Veatch’s power business. “The Cascade project builds upon Black & Veatch and PCL’s long-standing success as joint venture partners with an established track record of delivering complex power infrastructure projects safely, on-time and on-budget in the U.S. and Canada.”

“We are proud to once again partner with Black & Veatch and to pair our EPC experience and expertise in building and delivering effective, large-scale power facilities,” said Roger Keglowitsch, COO, Heavy Industrial at PCL. “We’re looking forward to working together again to deliver a cleaner, more sustainable power solution that will help meet Alberta’s energy needs.”

Most recently, the BPC team completed the H.R. Milner Unit 2 simple cycle gas-fired plant in May 2020, located near Grande Cache, Alberta. The project was completed by the team in just 17 months, safely and ahead of schedule.                                                                                         

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Editor’s Notes:

About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries by addressing the resilience and reliability of our world's most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2019 were US$3.7 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

About PCL
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that carries out work across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and in Australia. These diverse operations in the civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and buildings markets are supported by a strategic presence in 31 major centers. Together, these companies have an annual construction volume of $8 billion, making PCL the largest contracting organization in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Watch us build at PCL.com.

Black & Veatch Media Contact Information:

MELINA VISSAT | +1 303-256-4065 P | +1 617-595-8009 M | VissatM@BV.com

24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE | +1 866-496-9149

PCL Media Contact Information:

SHANE JONES | +1 780-733-5107 P | +1 780-235-5946 M | SRJones@pcl.com