Wind development announcement coming
Islanders can expect to hear an announcement from the provincial government regarding wind development within the next few weeks.
Last Friday Premier Robert Ghiz held his first full caucus meeting in West Prince since coming to power in May of 2007. The meeting held at Northport Pier, was followed by a tour of North Cape and other areas where wind development is underway or being considered along coastal communities of West Prince.
Premier Ghiz said the tour provided an opportunity for cabinet members and caucus to see the technology at Wind Energy Institute Canada (WEICan) located at North Cape and gave them a feeling for an area of the island where some have never been.
The potential for further wind development in this section of the province was one of the topics for discussion on Friday. Premier Ghiz noted that the potential is there, but they must balance further development with the demands and concerns of the people who live here.
“Everyone thinks wind energy is a wonderful idea, but not in my back yard,” he acknowledged.
At the present time 18 per cent of the homes on PEI are powered from the energy produced here and the province is hoping to increase this number within the next five years.
“Some say 25 to 30 percent is attainable. We are already a leader in North America within the 20 percent range,” he noted.
“In two weeks time, there will be an announcement in regards to wind energy development,” he revealed, without disclosing what this will include.
The province has a long history of involvement in the development of the wind energy technology, which is now experiencing world wide growth. The wind test facility at North Cape has evolved into WEICan, which is keeping PEI on the map in regards to the research and development. West Prince has also become a destination place for private developers interested in producing wind farms for the production of energy for export. West Cape wind farm owned by Suez International is already completing its second phase of development and other companies are in the wings, awaiting approval to start major wind farms in Western PEI.
Premier Ghiz said the issue of finding a suitable corridor for the transmission lines for the transportation of power produced by these farms is within Maritime Electric’s mandate but it is the provincial government that gives the final approval.
Premier Ghiz explained that a portion of the route being proposed from Howlan to Summerside runs parallel with the Confederation Trail to avoid dwellings and provide an adequate buffer zone. He feels it will not interfere with trail use. There are already lines going though some of the areas along the trail, he said.
“Will it upset some people? Obviously it will. No matter what route we go with someone will be upset,” he said.
By Debbie Horne
3 September 2008
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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