Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind farm proposed for N.S. farm belt
Credit: CBC News, www.cbc.ca/ 12 November 2010 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
An Ontario company wants to be the first to construct a wind farm on Nova Scotia’s sprawling North Mountain, which runs the length of the Annapolis Valley, the province’s farming heartland.
Toronto-based Sprott Power Corp. is seeking provincial government approval to install 12 two-megawatt towers near Hampton in Annapolis County.
“They are pretty close to the top of the mountain. You’ll see them without any problem,” said Peter Newton, the warden of Annapolis County.
Newton said his municipality is trying to develop a policy on wind farms, but acknowledged any future policy would not apply to the Hampton Mountain Wind Power project.
“They started before our existing bylaw was put in place,” Newton told CBC News on Friday.
In March, Sprott Power Corp. was given building permits before the county imposed a temporary bylaw banning wind farms on North Mountain.
Because there were no rules governing wind farms, Sprott Power Corp. only required the 12 building permits needed for the concrete pads where the wind turbines will rest.
The Hampton Mountain Wind Power Project is subject to provincial environmental review. That process started on Thursday, when the project was posted on the Nova Scotia Environment Department website.
The public has until Dec. 11 to comment. Nova Scotia’s Minister of Environment has one month after that to approve, reject or seek additional information on the project.
Newton said he believes the wind farm could be a boost for the area.
“There’s some opportunity for jobs, some tax revenue. Hopefully it will stimulate the economy locally,” he said.
Jeff Jenner, the president and CEO of Sprott Power Corp., told CBC News the wind farm will generate revenue for local businesses, royalties for local landowners and up to $250,000 a year in municipal taxes.
“We calculate that it will comprise between three to five per cent of the county tax base,” Jenner said Friday.
“Most of the land is not being used. Of the land we’ve optioned, only two per cent will be occupied by turbines,” he said.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
Wind Watch relies entirely on User Contributions |
(via Stripe) |
(via Paypal) |
Share: