Wind Power News: British Columbia
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Wind turbines: Realizing diminishing returns as they get huge
CALGARY – From megawatts to the size of rotors, everything about wind turbines has been getting bigger. But even proponents of wind power say they may be reaching a limit as logistics and a lack of social acceptance over their size start to hinder growth. San Francisco-based Pattern Energy Group Inc. recently announced it will be installing 61 GE turbines at its Meikle wind project in British Columbia, capable of generating between 2.75 and 3.2 megawatts of power. At 180 megawatts, . . . Complete story »
Groups warns British Columbia wind farm threatens trout spawning
The largest spawning run of wild rainbow trout in North America is threatened by construction of a wind farm project that could pollute waters with acidic run-off and heavy metals, two British Columbia outdoors organizations say. In a letter to the provincial government, the B.C. Wildlife Federation and the Pennask Lake Fishing and Game Club say that, if the bedrock around Pennask Creek is disturbed, it could pollute a creek where more than 20,000 trout spawn annually. Zero Emission Energy . . . Complete story »
Some concerns aired on Summerland wind farm approval
British Columbia’s electrical grid will be given a boost of guilt-free energy upon the completion of a wind farm near Summerland. BC Hydro announced on April 15 that the Summerland Wind Power Generation Project would be one of three new wind farms entering into the provinces electrical utility service. “Wind technology is growing and advancing quickly,” said Penticton MLA Dan Ashton. “Big or small, each wind project in our province contributes to B.C.’s clean-energy future.” The other two projects announced . . . Complete story »
Three new electricity projects gives wind power another boost in British Columbia
BC Hydro has signed agreements to buy electricity from three small wind projects, including the first two wind farms in the Okanagan. The projects will add 45 megawatts of wind power and bring BC Hydro’s total wind power capacity to 700 megawatts, about four per cent of Hydro’s power generation. The new projects will provide enough electricity to power 14,000 homes. Hydro expects construction on the three projects, owned by White Rock-based Zero Emission Energy Developments Inc., to begin in . . . Complete story »
Protection or permission? Are environmental assessments helping to protect anything?
Charlie Palmer’s team of biologists wasn’t looking for rare bats while conducting field work in 2010 to assess impacts of a wind farm on Bear Mountain near Dawson Creek. But that is precisely what they found – two eastern red bats, the first such sighting of that species in the region in 80 years, Palmer said. Typically, the biology that goes into an environmental assessment for a large industrial project is limited to conducting wildlife surveys and collecting data to establish . . . Complete story »
Proposed $480m wind farm in northern B.C would be province’s biggest
A company has begun regulatory work with the aim of building a possible $480 million wind farm near Tumbler Ridge. According to the company’s estimates, it could be larger than any other wind project currently operating in British Columbia. On Thursday, the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office announced that the Red Willow Wind Partnership Limited – a joint effort between Aeolis Wind Power Corporation and Boralex Inc. – had entered the environmental assessment process. This is a process where the provincial government allows . . . Complete story »
Site C approval leaves two northern B.C. wind projects up in the air
The future of two “shovel-ready” wind projects near Tumbler ridge – a town reeling from mine closures – are unclear after last week’s approval of the Site C dam megaproject. The district of Tumbler Ridge is urging BC Hydro to buy electricity from two proposed wind farms—the Thunder Mountain and Sundance Wind projects—that have been shelved due to limited demands for power. District officials say the projects would provide desperately needed jobs for the community of 2,700, which is still . . . Complete story »
McLeod Lake band signs wind power MOU
The McLeod Lake Indian band signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with EDF EN Canada on Friday in support of three proposed wind power developments in northern B.C. EDF EN Canada is a subsidiary of France-based EDF Energies Nouvelles, a major developer of wind and solar projects in Europe and North America. “The McLeod Lake Indian Band supports EDF EN Canada in the responsible development of sustainable, nonpolluting and environmentally-senstive wind energy in the Peace region,” McLeod Lake Chief Derrek . . . Complete story »
Wind blows favourably for independent power producers
To the west of Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island’s windswept tip, the Cape Scott Wind Farm’s 55 80-metre-high turbines are churning away at the sky, delivering electricity to British Columbia’s power grid and fuelling the hopes for growth in this segment of the renewable-power sector. It is the newest of a handful of wind farms generating something close to two per cent of the power that BC Hydro distributed to British Columbians last year, but that is up from nothing . . . Complete story »
Wind energy has costs
Nicolas Heap, regional director, Canadian Wind Energy, said, “Wind energy delivers on all fronts.” With that said, some questions and discussions need to take place. This statement is one of few if any from the government or proponents that wind projects were going to take place in our area and that B.C. Hydro was going to buy power from them for the next 20 years. Within our area there are three projects that are planned. This information did not come . . . Complete story »
