November 22, 2006
Prince Edward Island

Blustery conditions hamper wind farm

It may be a sign of good things to come, but right now it is causing problems.

Construction of a new 30-megawatt wind farm in eastern P.E.I. is slightly behind schedule. The reason, according to Jamie Ballem, the minister of environment, energy and forestry, is there have been too many days when it was too windy to erect the 10 turbines on the East Point site.

“There was one stretch where we lost seven out of nine days on the construction site,” Mr. Ballem said in the legislature last Friday.

“When you’re trying to lift a 90-ton (81.6-tonne) unit up 250 feet (75 metres), you want to make sure there is no wind blowing,” the minister said. “To date, six of the 10 turbines are in place and we’re working on the seventh one right now.”

Mr. Ballem said the original target of having the system up and generating power by the end of the year is still possible, “although it is getting tighter every day.”

Meanwhile, a community college in Charlottetown is looking at providing trades training to those looking for work in the alternative energy sector.

Holland College president Brian MacMillan met recently with Ann Forbes, executive director of the Canadian Wind Energy Institute. The institute, located in North Cape on the island’s western tip, is conducting research and development on wind power.

“We are excited about exploring the potential for collaboration with the Wind Energy Institute,” Mr. MacMillan said in a release.

Ms. Forbes visited various Holland College centres recently, learning about college programs related to the alternative energy sector and finding out about research and development projects now underway.

By Andy Walker
(awalker@herald.ca)

thechronicleherald.ca


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/11/22/blustery-conditions-hamper-wind-farm/