July 25, 2007
Ontario
Ontario
ARCHIPELAGO TWP. – A Toronto-based company plans to put up a wind testing tower just south of Magnetawan First Nation.
Environmental Electric Company Inc. hopes to put up a 60 metre guyed tower this fall on 50 square metres (0.012 acres) of Crown land located between Highway 529 and Highway 69, one kilometre south of Magnetawan First Nation.
Members of the public have until August 15 to write to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on the proposal.
Cam Lewis, of the Environmental Electric Company, said the company would test the winds at the site for a year. The company hopes to put in a six-tower wind farm that could produce 10 megawatts of power at the site in the future if the wind is favourable and the project is approved by the ministry.
Mr. Lewis mailed notices to area residents and stakeholder, including residents around Giroux Lake and Magnetawan First Nation, earlier this month.
To date the ministry has received one comment, which was positive, said Laura Heidman, MNR resource liaison specialist.
“(Locals have helped me) saying, ‘there’s a little road here that might help you,'” said Mr. Lewis. “You have to remember, wind is very positive.”
Mr. Lewis said he chose the location partially because not many people live in the area.
This is the third application the local MNR office has received for a wind testing tower on area Crown land with the two prior both withdrawn by applicants. In 2005 one of the proposals – a planned five-tower wind farm on the shores of Georgian Bay in Carling Township – caused controversy.
There is one wind farm in Ontario operating on Crown land near Sault Ste. Marie, said Ms Heidman.
By Sarah Bissonette
25 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/25/wind-tower-proposed-near-highway-69/