Turbine projects are a go for C-K
Gengrowth cleared its final logistical hurdle last night for four wind turbine projects in Chatham-Kent.
Although municipal council approved the Toronto company’s proposal in April, each project had to have the ‘H’, or holding, symbol removed.
This required the submission of a site plan agreement, as well as plans for construction, operation, emergency response and decommission.
Included is the Bisnett Line wind turbine project in Harwich, the Marsh Line project in Dover, the Swanton Line project in Tilbury and the Front Line project in Howard, which will each have five commercial wind turbines.
Paul Merkur, Gengrowth president, was pleased the company can now move forward.
“We still have to finalize the building permits and all those kind of things,” he said. “It’s nice to get to this stage.
“There was a lot of projects being investigated to see if they were viable for Chatham-Kent.”
Merkur said road construction could begin as soon as this fall, with turbines going up by the summer.
According to an administrative report, the economic benefits of these projects include $96 million in developer investment, $1.8 million in local construction materials, $200,000 in landowner compensation at $10,000 per turbine, and $96,000 in additional property taxes to the municipality.
While the issue was dealt with relatively quickly last night, turbines have not come without controversy in Chatham- Kent.
Several public meetings were held earlier this year, with numerous submissions given either for or against the projects.
Merkur said the community’s reaction was understandable, given that various wind energy companies were conducting studies.
“It wasn’t surprising that a lot of people were interested and some concerned,” he said.
“That’s why the process unfolded how it unfolded.”
Merkur said while Gengrowth takes steps far beyond what is required, he believes there is always room for improvement in the communication between companies and residents.
“Can you always do a better job? Absolutely,” he said.
He said Gengrowth would be interested in pursuing other projects in Chatham-Kent, but admitted power grid capacity limits that at this point.
By Trevor Terfloth
16 September 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
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- More wind turbines may arrive in C-K
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- Blowin' in the wind in C-K; wind turbine companies flocking in
- How many turbines will C-K have? Strategic direction called a strategic error
- Full speed ahead for Gengrowth; But Gilbert bemoans ‘wholesale intrusion’ of wind farms
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