Wind Power News: Prince Edward Island
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
IRAC denies Summerside bid for transmission line
SUMMERSIDE — The City of Summerside has lost its bid to secure better power rates for the ratepayers in Summerside. The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has denied the city’s application for Summerside Electric to install its own transmission line and interconnection to access the two submarine cables at Maritime Electric’s switching station in Bedeque. The city has contended it is being unfairly treated when it comes to energy charges to its citizens and it has to do with the . . .
What price wind power?
As P.E.I. taxpayers grapple with its staggering $2.4-billion debt, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute points out that the province pays the highest bond rates in the country, and it is the most likely province to default on its loans. Meanwhile, Wes Sheridan and Energy Corporation chief Wayne MacQuarrie have the province poised to borrow another $60 million to construct a second wind turbine facility in north-eastern P.E.I. All in the interest, we are promised, of keeping electricity costs down — costs that . . .
Cottage residents want vote on wind turbine farm
CLEAR SPRINGS — P.E.I.’s eastern tip is deliberately being turned into a “wasteland” by a government bent on building a wind farm in the face of landowner opposition, says a group of summer resident landowners. And those property owners, mostly Americans whose summer cottages will be caught in the wash and shadow of giant wind turbines, want the right as taxpaying citizens to vote on whether the project proceeds. “As a long-time property owner, I feel my vote needs to . . .
We can’t afford this pricey project
A recent article (‘Man selling land near wind farm for one cent’, The Guardian, Feb. 15, 2013) raises what should be a serious concern to all Islanders but has received almost no media coverage or opposition questions. Our free-spending government has quietly proceeded with a project to erect a 30 megawatt wind farm in the Hermanville-Clearspring area along our northeastern shore much to the concern of many residents who were not consulted. Finance/Energy Minister Sheridan claims that he has obtained . . .
No environmental risk in wind farm: province
The P.E.I. government presented an environmental assessment statement Tuesday night for a wind farm in the northeast part of the province, concluding there is no risk to public health. “I’m so glad,” said local landowner Joyce MacDonald. “You need something good in the Island. And this is going to be one good project.” The Hermanville wind farm project has faced opposition from some people in the area. They want the project put on hold until Health Canada completes a study . . .
Man selling land near wind farm for one cent
Most people pay a premium to get waterfront property, but a piece of land in Clearspring could be going for a real bargain. One cent, to be exact. Ivor Sargent, a seasonal resident who owns property in Clearspring, is ready to sell part of his land for a penny in protest against the provincial government’s plans for a 30-megawatt wind farm in the Hermanville-Clearspring area. Sargent hopes to stop the project because he said the government’s claims they consulted with . . .
Alberton wind turbine appears short winded
The wind turbine installed at the Prince County Exhibitions grounds in Alberton has been underperforming after over a year of operation. The turbine, a structure standing 30 metres in height with blades spanning 35 feet, was first established at the site in September of 2011. According to the CEO of Wind Energy Institute of Canada at North Point, Scott Harper, the Alberton turbine had electrical faults after it was installed, which had to be dealt with before it could perform . . .
Rink wind turbine program off to ‘bad start’
Wind turbines installed at four P.E.I. rinks are not performing as expected. The rinks each invested about $70,000 in the turbines in 2011, with government also picking up part of the cost. After almost a year of breakdowns and delays, last March they started turning, But they haven’t generated the expected electricity savings. “We’re very dissatisfied,” said Myles MacDonald, president of the board at the Northumberland Arena. “It’s made about $1,800 in the last 10 months — that’s the energy . . .
DeWind Co to replace blades at 10 MW site in Canada
IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DeWind Co, a US based manufacturer of wind turbines, has initiated the replacement of blades for five wind turbines at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (Institute) Wind Energy R&D Park on Prince Edward Island, Canada, north of the community of Tignish. DeWind’s machines were selected for their unique generating qualities to be paired with ongoing research at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada including turbine testing and utility scale storage. With the Institute’s focus on research, the . . .
Energy Commission’s report made public
The report discusses the challenges in being dependent on energy from the mainland, and promotes further growth in wind energy projects. It notes that in the past quarter-century the Island’s population has grown by 14 per cent and electrical consumption has increased 100 per cent. It weighs into the discussion on whether Maritime Electric should be privately or publicly owned and suggests a hybrid option consisting of public ownership of generation assets through the Energy Corporation and continued private utility ownership of the transmission and distribution system.
