April 4, 2008
Ontario

New wind farm on tap; Fifty turbines proposed in project

Yet another large-scale wind project has been proposed for Chatham-Kent.

Calgary-based BowArk Energy Ltd. and Windsor-based Wind Prospect Inc. are behind the Kent Centre Wind Farm, which would consist of approximately 50 turbines with a 150-megawatt output.

It would be located on approximately 10,000 acres spanning the townships of Raleigh, Harwich and Howard.

An open house is scheduled for April 16 at the Blenheim Legion, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This is the first Ontario project for BowArk, which wanted to expand into the province.

“Southwestern Ontario was attractive because it has one of the best wind resources in Ontario,” said Keith Knudsen, BowArk’s manager of development engineering. “It’s probably attractive to a lot of developers.”

Knudsen said the company is working with local landowners to gather a land base.

While he looks forward to meeting with stakeholders, he’s also aware wind power is a controversial issue in Chatham-Kent.

“We’ve heard at some of the municipal meetings there have been concerns voiced from the residents,” he said. “(But) we’re comfortable with that and educating them based on our experiences in Canada.”

The environmental screening process has begun. However, setback distances haven’t yet been determined.

Knudsen said if all goes according to plan, the wind farm could be operational in 2011.

However, he couldn’t predict when construction would begin.

“It depends on the Ontario government,” he said. “They haven’t yet released our RFP (request for proposals).”

If approved, the Kent Centre Wind Farm would be slightly larger than another project already in the works.

Montreal-based Kruger Energy is in the construction phase of its 44-turbine project at Port Alma.

By Trevor Terfloth