A load contract is not a data centre running
The Alberta Electric System Operator says Phase 1 of the Large Load Integration program is complete. All 1,200 megawatts of the interim connection limit were allocated. Two projects executed load contracts: P2936 GLDC Load at 970 megawatts, and P3083 Keephills Data Centre Phase I at 230 megawatts. Those projects now move through the Connection Process. Any further megawatts, including adds on the same sites, go to Phase 2.
The Keephills slice sits with TransAlta Corporation (TSX: TA, NYSE: TAC). The Logic reported the AESO awarded 230 megawatts to TransAlta's Keephills project, a gas site about 70 kilometres west of Edmonton. TransAlta has said it rezoned about 3,000 acres near the plant for a data centre. Chief executive John Kousinioris told analysts the project would contribute to powering a new industry in the province.
This is an AESO allocation and a load contract. It is not 230 megawatts of new generation in the 2026 pool, and it is not the Centralia Unit 2 availability order TransAlta confirmed yesterday. Keephills is Alberta. Centralia is Washington coal under a U.S. Department of Energy 202(c) order.