Wind farm project to begin construction next spring
So far, so good.
That’s the feeling of officials with Acciona Energy North America regarding their planned wind farm project near Amherst.
“Everything is running according to plan right now,” company spokesman Eric Schneider said from the company’s North American headquarters in Chicago. “We have completed our environmental studies and submitted results of those to the local authorities as part of the permit process.”
Announced in May, the project includes the erection of 20, 1.5-megawatt wind turbines on the marsh near Exit 3 of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Once things like building permits are in place, the company will begin construction planning and hopefully begin erecting turbines in the spring. It’s expected it will take three to four months to complete the project.
The 30-megawatt wind farm, valued at about $55 million, is expected to begin generating power as early as a year from now in September 2009.
The project is part of a 25-year power purchase agreement between the company and Nova Scotia Power. It’s expected the farm will produce enough electricity to meet the power needs of 10,000 homes.
News that the project is continuing ahead is not good for Jim Milner, who has opposed this project and its predecessor for its potential impact on the marsh and nearby Amherst.
Milner said considering concerns over the stability of the aboiteau should lead provincial officials to stop the project.
He said the turbines will be less than 100 metres from the aboiteau and will require, 1,200 tonnes of marsh mud and 60 loads of concrete. He doesn’t feel they can co-exist.
“The province has shown it is not capable of mitigating adverse effects on the marsh,” Milner said. “The fact they have been trying unsuccessfully for three years to install a new aboiteau adjacent to the John Lusby Marsh proves this.”
Schneider said he’s not sure of any potential impact from the failure of the aboiteau on the wind farm, but stressed the company’s environmental assessment has already been accepted.
“I’m not sure of any impact it would have,” he said.
By Darrell Cole
28 August 2008
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