August 21, 2007
Nova Scotia

Mountain being considered as site for 21 turbines

The company behind a controversial wind farm plan near Pugwash is also proposing to build upwards of 21 turbines atop Nuttby Mountain, Colchester County, said to be the highest spot in mainland Nova Scotia.

Clair Peers, president of Cobequid Wind Power, said a group of companies intends to propose both locations to Nova Scotia Power by the end of August as part of the electric company’s search for renewable energy projects.

“Everybody’s out there now getting their projects in order so they can make the deadline,” Mr. Peers said during a telephone interview Monday morning.

A public open house was held near the project site later in the day.

The companies, Cobequid Wind Power and Atlantic Wind Power Inc., under the name Cobequid Area Windfarms Inc., want to erect turbines on Nuttby Mountain that will stand 120 metres high and produce between 1.5 and 2 megawatts each, which Mr. Peers estimated would be enough to power 16,000 homes.

Atlantic Wind Power owns Nova Scotia’s largest wind power project at Pubnico Point.

The developers are leasing more than 200 hectares on Nuttby of forest land from two landowners.

“A major consideration for this project is proximity to major grid lines which are nearby,” Mr. Peers said.

“The second is accessibility to put the equipment in.”

The turbines will be roughly 1.5 kilometres from the nearest home.

Location has been the key issue in ongoing opposition to the companies’ other proposed wind farm near Pugwash, Cumberland County.

The Gulf Shore Association claims the project, which would be less than a kilometre from the nearest home, is too close to houses and cottages and could pose health and safety risks, and affect enjoyment of life and property.

Nova Scotia Power issued a request for proposals in March from independent power producers for renewable energy projects, including wind, biomass, hydro and others.

The power company intends to add 130 megawatts of additional renewable energy by the end of 2009, which would be enough to power an additional 40,000 homes in Nova Scotia.

NSP currently provides enough renewable power to supply about 150,000 homes.

The deadline for proposals is Aug. 31, and Nova Scotia Power estimates it will notify successful applicants by Oct. 1.

Glennie Langille, spokeswoman for the power utility, said Monday she couldn’t speculate on how many proposals the company will receive.

By Cathy Von Kintzel
Truro Bureau

thechronicleherald.ca

21 August 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/08/21/mountain-being-considered-as-site-for-21-turbines/