Wind farm plan stirs up concerns; Proposed Amherst Island project could near size of Wolfe Island facility

The wind farm proposed for Amherst Island could approach the size of one of the largest such facilities in Canada, now under construction on Wolfe Island.

Kingston-based Gaia Power Inc. is developing the Amherst Island wind-power project, called Windlectric, in conjunction with Oakville-based Algonquin Power Management Inc.

The project is expected to produce a maximum of 200 megawatts, or enough to power roughly 75,000 homes.

The Wolfe Island project, slated for 198 megawatts, includes 86 turbines.

Samit Sharma, owner of Gaia Power Inc., said Windlectric is moving forward with its plans to build a wind turbine farm on Amherst Island and will compete with other wind-energy developers this fall for a contract with the Ontario Power Authority to supply renewable energy to the province’s electricity grid.

The deadline to submit project proposals to the authority is in October.

In addition to some Amherst Island landowners optioning their land to the Windlectric farm, other property owners in the rural community had optioned their land for lease for wind development to Calgary-based Canadian Hydro Developers Inc., who’s building the project on Wolfe Island.

This spring, Canadian Hydro Developers Inc. decided not to pursue Amherst Island as a prospective location for a wind plant.

The Environmental Screening Process for the Gaia project, which looks at its various impacts, is set to begin for Windlectric.

Meanwhile research that was publicized this week blames tall wind turbines for the deaths of hundreds of migratory bats in the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.

University of Calgary began the study in 2006 after the bats were found below turbines near Pincher Creek. About 90 per cent of the animals had severe respiratory injuries consistent with a sudden drop in air pressure that occurs when they get close to turbine blades. The change in blood pressure caused blood vessels to explode and fill the lungs with blood.

It is issues such as this about which the Coalition to Protect Amherst Island is concerned.

Peter Large, a retired engineer and coalition member, said that the organization isn’t against wind power, but would simply like to see more research and attention paid to its effects on peoples’ health, animals and the environment.

“Let’s make sure that if anything is going to be built anywhere in a neighbourhood that we understand the health risks,” he said.

The Amherst Island coalition has roughly 150 members.

“In any backyard, we should not have wind turbines of the size that are being proposed for our island,” said Large.

Sharma said studies such the one from the University of Calgary underlines the importance of research to be done before turbines are erected and after projects such as the one he has proposed for Amherst Island become operational.

“When you learn today, you make a better tomorrow … it makes you do better siting and planning,” he said.

Sharma also said partners in the Windlectric project are working to provide information to residents about wind energy in general and the specific proposal for Amherst Island.

“One of the one important things we’ve learned is to engage the residents and the community early in the process to ensure that factual information is available,” he said.

Sharma said supporters of the project have for med a group called CAIRE — Citizens of Amherst Island for Renewable Energy — with about 110 members.

Gaia and Algonquin Power are in the process of compiling reports on wind data, environmental impacts and engineering data related to the connection to the electricity grid.

Like all electricity projects in Ontario, the Amherst Island project is subject to an Environmental Screening Process. Generally, that process looks at potential environmental impacts, develops mitigation measures and consults with agencies, the public and aboriginal communities. The process also involves the preparation of an environmental screening report that’s provided to the public for review.

A host of federal agencies are involved to ensure the project meets the requirements for a screening level study under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, if required.

“For any project to proceed, to get the final permits, developers have to deal with about 90 different agencies, which are federal, provincial and municipal,” Sharma said.

“At the end of the day, you have to navigate through all these different levels of government and various agencies … to make sure all the requirements are met.”

As the work gets done, it’s made public to give citizens an opportunity to comment on the work.”

Throughout that process, the comments and public submissions go back to the regulatory agencies for further review into what additional work needs to be done.

Some of the additional studies that may have to be completed include bird, bat, groundwater, noise and logistics studies.

While Sharma said construction for the Amherst Island wind farm is not imminent, the Ontario Power Authority requires that all projects be commissioned within three years of the contract being awarded.

By Jennifer Pritchett
Whig-Standard Staff Writer

The Kingston Whig Standard

27 August 2008

Tags: Wind power, Wind energy

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