National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » County needs more info about Arran Wind Project

Bruce County council says it needs more information from the developer of the Arran Wind Project before it can complete its portion of the community consultation form under the Renewable Energy Act.

After a meeting of the county’s agriculture, tourism and planning committee May 19, Warden Mike Smith said council raised a number of concerns with wind developer Leader Resources in late March and have yet to hear back.

Smith said the county wants information about road entrances to proposed turbine sites.

“They have told us overall where the turbines will be located, but we want to know where are the entrances, what roads are they going to use. Some of them we think are safety issues,” Smith said.

County councillors approved a letter to Leader Resources with a copy to the provincial government which in part says, “we would submit that Arran Wind Project, while following the technical requirements of the REA (Renewable Energy Act,) they are not in our opinion in conformity with the spirit of the act in regards to undergoing adequate consultation with this level of government. Arran Wind has to date not provided the information as requested by the County of Bruce. Secondly, Arran Wind has not even acknowledged the County’s letter nor provided any indication as to why the request by the County may be unreasonable.”

Spokesperson for Leader Resources, Heather Boa, said she is aware of the concerns raised by county and company officials have contacted county planner David Smith.

“We’re arranging for a meeting between our staff and their appropriate staff and that will take place sometime in June, said Boa who admits the company has been a little slow in getting back to the county. But that’s because company officials were seeking clarification on behalf of the county on what’s required for the county to complete the consultation process.

“It seems municipalities have questions about the process, how the forms are filled out and what information is needed. Those questions have come up in meetings with other municipalities,” Boa said.

The Arran Wind Energy Project, with its proposed 46 wind turbines, is planned for parts of Arran-Elderslie and Saugeen Shores.

Boa said there’s still time to resolve the concerns raised by the county, adding that the company doesn’t plan to submit an application for approval until early 2012.