Wind Power News: Saskatchewan
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.
Saskatchewan to use federal setback standards for turbines
Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer says the province will soon see guidelines from Health Canada for how far wind turbines should be from homes. The national guidelines, which have been circulated in draft form, will closely match those in place in Ontario, where the provincial government spells out a minimum distance of 550 metres, and could stop a patchwork of municipal guidelines from evolving. Saskatchewan will defer to the federal guidelines, a move that likely won’t quell a growing number . . .
City of Saskatoon kills proposed wind turbine project at landfill
The city has put an end to the controversial proposed wind turbine project at the Saskatoon landfill. The city received only one bid at $6.35 million, close to $2 million over budget. It would still make a profit but “the rate of return is not enough,” the city said Friday in a press release. “This is disappointing, for sure,” said Kevin Hudson of Saskatoon Light and Power in the release. “It’s difficult to explain the reasons for the lack of . . .
Woman opposed to Saskatoon turbine claims victory
Saskatoon Light and Power is no longer recommending a wind turbine project at the city’s landfill due to financial reasons. Barb Biddle is considering it a big win. She’s the president of the Montgomery Community Association but she is also part of group in the city that was very much against the wind turbine. She says the turbine would have had a negative impact on health, taxes and the environment. “We made sure that we could share that information with . . .
Committee says no to wind turbine at landfill
City administration will no longer recommend building a wind turbine at the Saskatoon Landfill. Saskatoon City Council requested bids for the project this past year, but only received one submission by the closing date of December 15. The proposal was “well beyond” the budget set out by council, according to a release sent Friday afternoon. The bid placed the cost of the project around $6.35 million, almost $2 million over the budget requested by council. City administration feels that while . . .
Landfill wind turbine bid exceeds reasonable budget
After City Council’s approval to find a builder for the proposed wind turbine at the Saskatoon Landfill, the Administration is no longer in a position to recommend the project. At the close of Requests for Proposal on Thursday, December 15, 2011, Saskatoon Light & Power received only one bid to construct a wind turbine at the landfill. The lone submission was well beyond the limits of what would be a viable alternative electricity generation project for the City. “This is . . .
Worried about the wind
Saskatchewan is a vast province, vast and thinly populated. Out in the country you can drive for miles and miles without seeing a soul. So, in this vast and thinly populated province, you would think it is possible to build a wind turbine somewhere without pissing off a whole bunch of people. Apparently not. The plan is for Saskatoon’s power utility to build a great, towering wind turbine within city limits. The site is near the landfill, which already is . . .
The Saskatoon scene: $5-Mil for warm fuzzies
There’s been much hot air blowing lately in Saskatoon, generated by all the talk over the City’s proposed $5-million plan to install a wind turbine at the Saskatoon landfill. The 400-ft high fan is one of three renewable energy projects that is anticipated to make up a ‘Green Energy Park’, slated to be located at the garbage dump in the southwest corner of the city. Just adjacent to the turbine’s anticipated new home lies the neighborhood of Montgomery, whose residents . . .
Group urges city to rexamine wind turbine project
A group of Saskatoon residents urged city councillors to put the brakes on a controversial wind turbine project when they appeared before council Monday night. The city is moving ahead with a request for proposals to build the project at the city’s landfill, but residents of the nearby Montgomery neighbourhood say it would create noise, and decrease property values. They also argue the project will have environmental and health effects. The Saskatoon Wind Turbine Coalition presented a petition with more . . .
Wind coalition packs chambers
A group of residents urged Saskatoon city council Monday to stop the construction of a wind turbine atop the Saskatoon landfill. The Saskatoon Wind Turbine Coalition opposes the project, which was approved by council in October. About $500,000 has been spent on the turbine project thus far. The group packed into council chambers as three speakers outlined their concerns at the beginning of the night. “What the City of Saskatoon has before it is an error,” said Chris Fossenier, a . . .
Marginal benefit
City council was mistaken to approve proceeding with a $5 million tall wind turbine at the landfill. It showed no interest in the comments made by Coun. Pat Lorje and had no empathy for Montgomery residents. Lorje was correct to say, “Council made a decision on a wing and a prayer while saluting the green flag.” The wind power classification chart lists wind resources potential as: marginal; fair; good; excellent; outstanding; and superb. Kevin Hudson, an alternative energy engineer with . . .
