January 15, 2013
Ontario

NextEra’s Varna wind farm application is being hurt by transmission line opposition

By Rick Stow | January 15, 2013 | www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca

(Huron County) –

Problems with transmission line routing are stringing out NextEra’s Varna Wind Farm application.
The developer plans to run its line from the proposed 60 megawatt wind installation along Centennial and Hensall Roads, to the Seaforth transformer station.

Nicole Geneau – the Project Development officer for NextEra – says they now want to run the line along municipal right-of-way on the opposite side of the road to the existing Hydro One poles.

The public utility’s safety policy rules out the preferred collocation option.

Geneau says approval of a transmission line involves being issued a “Leave to Construct” from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).

This process falls under the Electrical Act.

The proposed transmission line cuts through portions of Bluewater and Huron East.

The Municipality of Bluewater wants all lines running through its jurisdiction to be buried, and is applying for Intervener Status at the OEB hearing on the Nextera application.

Opposition from residents in Huron East centres around proximity factors, and comes from home owners and a commercial dairy farm.

Huron East is proposing to advance residents’ concerns at a Council meeting with Nextera representatives.

The OEB process is much shorter than what is required under the Green Energy Act, and Bluewater is on record as maintaining Nextera’s application is premature at this time.

The Energy Board advised a number of possible interveners that they had ten days to file their paperwork if they planned to present to the hearing.

Bluewater’s notification was received on Christmas Eve.

The OEB has yet to announce a date for the hearing.

When it is called the Board will also announce whether it will be an oral, face-to-face format– or take written submissions only.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/15/nexteras-varna-wind-farm-application-is-being-hurt-by-transmission-line-opposition/