Wind Power News: Saskatchewan
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
RM of Rocanville holding plebiscite on wind farm
Ratepayers in the RM of Rocanville will be going to the polls on April 5 to vote in a plebiscite on a bylaw that will determine if a wind farm can be built in the RM of Rocanville. The current bylaw limits the height of wind turbines to 100 meters. A proposed bylaw amendment would change the height limit to 200 meters. Nextera Energy, a wind farm developer in discussion with some landowners in the RM of Rocanville for development . . . Complete story »
Wind energy project possible for area; Developer to submit proposal to SaskPower
A Montreal-based renewable energy developer has eyes on establishing a wind energy project in the area, and the question will be whether SaskPower gives their proposal the official nod to move forward. Representatives with the RES Group (Renewable Energy Systems) were at the community hall in Macrorie on Tuesday night, January 30 to speak with residents about their proposal; a 200 mega-watt (MW) wind turbine project to be located primarily within the rural municipalities of Coteau and Fertile Valley, while . . . Complete story »
Open house for proposed RM of Rocanville wind farm
More details were released on a proposal for a wind farm in the RM of Rocanville last week. NextEra Energy is in the very early stages of developing a proposal for a wind farm west of Rocanville, near a high voltage line that carries power to the Tantallon substation. NextEra is the world’s largest producer of power from solar and wind. It operates solar, wind and nuclear power plants across four Canadian provinces and 30 states. David Lawlor of NextEra . . . Complete story »
Lots of questions at wind turbine regulation meeting
There were lots of questions at an RM [rural municapility] of Rocanville public meeting Thursday regarding the regulation of wind farms. The RM held the meeting to gauge public opinion on the bylaw regarding siting of wind farms. With a proposal for a new wind farm in the early stages, two RM residents asked the RM to hold a public meeting to discuss the current bylaw regarding the siting of wind farms. The current bylaw limits the height of wind . . . Complete story »
Wind power project proposed in Blue Hills, Sask.; Algonquin Power tries again after Chaplin plan rejected
Algonquin Power is taking another stab at a wind power project in Saskatchewan, after its original location near Chaplin raised environmental concerns. It’s now eyeing a 177-megawatt wind project in the Blue Hills area of southwest Saskatchewan. The proposed site is between Herbert and Neidpath, east of Swift Current. The provincial government rejected Algonquin’s original Chaplin site near a shorebird habitat. “The location and the size of this project were the concerns that the public raised,” said Environment Minister Scott . . . Complete story »
Second wind for power project, if it blows over well with landowners
A 177 megawatt wind turbine project is getting a second chance in southwest Saskatchewan, but first has to pass the test with the province and landowners in the area. SaskPower and Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. announced Thursday a new location for a wind farm originally planned for a site near Chaplin. Environmental concerns – it was too close to a migratory bird flight path – led to a needed change of location for the proposed 77 wind turbines. That new . . . Complete story »
Wind farm proposed for Kennedy-Kipling area
A wind farm is being proposed for the Kennedy-Kipling area. Samit Sharma of Gaia Energy, who was instrumental in getting the Red Lily Wind Farm built at Moosomin, is involved with the proposal for Kennedy. Sharma said in an interview last week that he is in the preliminary stages of putting together a plan for the Kennedy area. “In Saskatchewan, power is controlled by SaskPower, and from time to time they show their interest in new power generation projects. We . . . Complete story »
Little disclosure on wind turbine bird mortality
I just read “What’s a few chopped up birds” (From The Top of the Pile, Sept. 22) on wind turbines and bird deaths in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Way to go Saskatchewan for actually taking this issue seriously. We’ve never had this happen in Ontario! I’m from southwestern Ontario, but moved to New Brunswick two years ago when the turbines went up. For six years I fought them, went to tribunal hearings, videotaped the scummy company Nextera destroying an active eagle . . . Complete story »
Chaplin Lake wind turbine project rejected over concerns for birds
The Saskatchewan government has rejected a proposed wind turbine project near a lake popular with migratory birds. The Ministry of Environment announced Monday it has denied Algonquin Power’s idea to build a 177-megawatt wind farm with a possible 79 turbines near Chaplin Lake, some 150 kilometres west of Regina. Environment Minister Scott Moe said the project was simply too large and too close to a recognized migratory bird flight path. Algonquin’s vice-president of investor relations Ian Tharp said the company . . . Complete story »
The Hat a hub for green energy?
The man leading the charge to create a community-owned wind energy and solar field near Swift Current says the model could be exported across the provincial boundary to Alberta. Here, where the Alberta government has pledged support for such projects, a deregulated grid would be easier to connect to, and the same wind and solar resources are in place. James Glennie is the president of Sask Wind, a Saskatoon-based enterprise which plans to build a $90-million renewable energy facility and . . . Complete story »
