A huge solar project at the old MagCan plant near Aldersyde is being scaled back.

High River council got a letter containing an update on the project at its last meeting from TC Energy, the company behind the project.

It's slated for the site at Highway 2A and 434 Avenue.

They received approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission for a 102.5-megawatt solar power plant, a 6.5-megawatt storage facility and the Saddlebrook sub-station in December and received a Development Permit from Foothills County on April 8, 2022.

Now they plan to apply to modify the plant from 102.5 megawatts to 81 megawatts, to have a lower number of solar panels and to change their location on the site.

Because of the proposed changes, TC Energy says it'll re-examine its noise and glare studies.

If they get approval they hope to start construction in the third quarter of this year and the plant could be operational late in 2023.