Orangeville Banner Part 3 of 3
The last of the Orangeville Banner series
Too bad the Digby Courier or Chronical Herald would not do an indepth
series on wind farm related issues
lois
MOE pledges ongoing research on turbines, health
Thursday November 19 2009
By Richard Vivian
SPECIAL REPORT:
Conclusion of the three-part series
Provincial plans to create a streamlined approval process for
renewable energy projects have been met with a bevy of objections —
from proponents, municipal leaders, and those who believe wind
turbines negatively impact human health — and a court challenge.
The government introduced its Green Energy Act earlier this year.
Officials tout it as a means of creating “green” jobs and helping the
government live up to its oft-delayed promise of eliminating
coal-fired power plants.
Many stakeholders, however, aren’t entirely pleased with what’s on the table.
Wind energy proponents feel it takes away their flexibility in placing
turbines; municipal councils abhor losing their ability to negotiate
with project owners; and some people feel the act doesn’t go far
enough to protect residents.
Perhaps the most significant hot-button issue is the 550-metre minimum
separation between renewable energy projects and residences..
Previously, host municipalities are responsible for negotiating
setbacks using their planning authority, which can be — and, in some
cases, has been — overruled by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).
“It’s inadequate. We have evidence people living as far away as 1,500
metres are experiencing serious side effects from wind turbines,”
insists Beth Harrington of Wind Concerns Ontario, a grassroots
organization formed to raise the profile of reported health impacts
associated with industrial wind turbines. “It’s very serious what’s
going on.”
Some people who live near turbines, including several in Dufferin, say
they suffer headaches, fatigue, a ringing in the ears and more. No one
contacted by The Banner has documented evidence to draw a direct
connection between their symptoms and the turbines, but they say the
symptoms didn’t appear until the turbines were turned on.
An application was filed Oct. 19 seeking a judicial review of the Act
based on the precautionary principal, which suggests if something
can’t be proven safe, it shouldn’t be used.
The application, filed by a Prince Edward County man, claims there is
more than sufficient uncertainty surrounding wind development for the
court to strike down portions of the legislation until “proper” health
studies are conducted.
“The actions of this government have turned the precautionary
principle on its head,” says Dr. Robert McMurtry, former dean of
medicine at the University of Western Ontario, who has repeatedly
asked the provincial government to stop approving wind power projects
until a full epidemiological study has been completed.
“People are leaving their homes. Some people have had to be admitted
to hospital with hypertensive episodes,” McMurtry says.
“All the victims have one thing in common. When they go back home, or
near the wind farms, they’re worse and when they get away, they’re
better.”
Canadian Hydro Developers, which operates a 133-turbine wind farm in
the county, acknowledges it purchased the homes of at least two
residents who reported health problems related to the turbines;
however, the majority of residents around the turbines have not
reported any health problems or filed noise complaints.
“We did a jurisdictional comparison of what other countries in Europe
are doing and what they’re doing in the [United] States,” Kate Jordan,
Ministry of the Environment (MOE) spokesperson says of how the
550-metre setback was determined. “We based that framework both on
that jurisdictional scan and the science and the modelling work that
our staff did here.
“That is a protective and progressive approach that we have taken.”
Previously, setbacks were largely determined based on the MOE noise
guideline — a 40-decibel limit at the point of reception.
“We felt that was a very evidence-based process in terms of
determining setbacks. ... We have expressed concern [with the Green
Energy Act] because it does seem somewhat arbitrary, the selection of
the number,” says Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind
Energy Association (CanWEA).
“We feel we’ve actually had a very effective regulatory framework in
Ontario that has helped to determine setbacks. The use of that has
determined that some turbines can be built closer than 550 metres and
some turbines cannot be built that close and have to be built further
away,” he says, noting setbacks across the province “generally” range
between 400 and 700 metres.
Municipalities across the province passed resolutions opposing the
Act’s setbacks, including many local communities.
Conscious of reported negative health impacts, the province will fund
an academic research chair to keep on top of the latest science and
technology associated with renewable energy projects, especially wind
turbines, explains Jordan.
“That chair’s role will be to research potential public health effects
of renewable energy projects as new information and new science
emerges. That will ensure that our approvals continue to be protective
of public health and the environment. That work will be ongoing,” she
says.
“There are more details to come on that this fall. We’re just looking
at the options right now for establishing the chair.”
Currently, the MOE doesn’t have any regulatory standards regarding
low-frequency noise — something the chair will be charged with
considering. Any recommendations brought forward by the chair are to
be reviewed by ministry staff for potential implementation.
“We intend to participate in the public process, as well as respond to
the various ministries involved,” Harrington says in reference to the
research chair’s work. “We don’t think the government should proceed
any further until these things have been looked into very closely.”
At 550, the new provincial setback is 100 metres farther than exists
today in Amaranth and part of Melancthon, home to Canadian Hydro’s
EcoPower Centre. Amaranth Mayor Don MacIver believes the increased
separation is a step in the right direction, but he questions whether
it’s enough.
“We’ve had quite a bit of concern over the current wind farm — the
transformer noise and the turbine noise,” he says.
“What I see with the Green Energy Act ... it’s going to open up the
township to a lot more wind turbine development in all sorts of
different areas. And we won’t have any power to help make
adjustments,” the mayor adds.
Through the act, a one-stop shop for renewable energy projects will be
created to help initiatives get off the ground more quickly. As part
of that streamlined process, several regulatory processes have been
amalgamated.
In doing so, the province has taken away municipal involvement.
Planning approvals, environmental assessments, certificates of
approval and other authorizations are now handled by a single
provincial body.
“We fought for everything to try to protect residents,” MacIver says,
referring to an OMB challenge initiated by Canadian Hydro. “The Green
Energy Act takes that away. Our issue was always proper planning —
that any development that comes into the town is subject to proper
planning. It’s not a question of whether you like turbines or not,
it’s a question ... of planning it and putting it in properly.”
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities asks for Wind Turbine Research
CBC News
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is asking Ottawa to fund more scientific research into the potential health effects of wind turbines.
The organization has asked the government to focus on two areas: low-frequency noise and electrical disturbances from industrial-scale wind developments. The issue was raised in September by three municipalities from Ontario at a national board of directors meeting.
“It’s to ask the federal minister of health to look in to see if everything is OK for health and safety,” federation president Basil Stewart told CBC News on Tuesday.
Stewart recently oversaw the approval of four wind turbines in his hometown of Summerside, P.E.I., which are expected to start producing power before the end of the month.
“I know we in Summerside followed all the provincial and federal regulations and guidelines,” he said.
“FCM hasn’t take a position on it because there are communities across the country for it and against it.”
Stewart said there’s been no word from Ottawa whether it will pay for new research into these areas.
CBC News
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is asking Ottawa to fund more scientific research into the potential health effects of wind turbines.
The organization has asked the government to focus on two areas: low-frequency noise and electrical disturbances from industrial-scale wind developments. The issue was raised in September by three municipalities from Ontario at a national board of directors meeting.
“It’s to ask the federal minister of health to look in to see if everything is OK for health and safety,” federation president Basil Stewart told CBC News on Tuesday.
Stewart recently oversaw the approval of four wind turbines in his hometown of Summerside, P.E.I., which are expected to start producing power before the end of the month.
“I know we in Summerside followed all the provincial and federal regulations and guidelines,” he said.
“FCM hasn’t take a position on it because there are communities across the country for it and against it.”
Stewart said there’s been no word from Ottawa whether it will pay for new research into these areas.
Noise Bylaws
Council passes bylaw to control noise
» Original source is provided at end of article «
Arran-Elderslie has passed a new noise control bylaw. The bylaw will
prohibit and regulate excessive noise and associated vibration, said
chief administrative officer/clerk A. P. Crawford.
There is no enforceable noise control bylaw in the municipality, she
said. Three pre-amalgamation bylaws for Chesley, Tara and Paisley, now
more than 10 years old “are all out of date and contain invalid
references due to amendments to provincial legislation,” she said.
The new bylaw covers everything from barking dogs and noisy vehicles
to loud parties.
Paisley ward Coun. Jack Riley called much of the new bylaw “nonsense”
saying “common sense should prevail.”
Crawford noted “not always does common sense prevail with some people.”
She said municipal staff have received “many complaints over the
spring and summer months with respect to excessive noise and has had
no standards against which to evaluate and determine if the noise is
actually excessive and therefore had no legal means to deal with
infractions.”
The new bylaw differentiates between quiet zones, residential zones
and all other zones within the municipality and provides for differing
standards within each type of zone, based on needs. It also recognizes
the requirements for farm machinery in agricultural areas.
One portion deals with noise and vibration which both Crawford and
Elderslie ward Coun. Mark Davis said could be used in council’s fight
to stop the construction of large industrial wind turbines in the
municipality.
Staff will now apply for set fines under the Provincial Offences Act
to simplify enforcement of the bylaw through the issue of infraction
notices, Crawford said.
By MARY GOLEM, SUN TIMES CORRESPONDENT
The Sun Times
www.owensoundsuntimes.com
» Original source is provided at end of article «
Arran-Elderslie has passed a new noise control bylaw. The bylaw will
prohibit and regulate excessive noise and associated vibration, said
chief administrative officer/clerk A. P. Crawford.
There is no enforceable noise control bylaw in the municipality, she
said. Three pre-amalgamation bylaws for Chesley, Tara and Paisley, now
more than 10 years old “are all out of date and contain invalid
references due to amendments to provincial legislation,” she said.
The new bylaw covers everything from barking dogs and noisy vehicles
to loud parties.
Paisley ward Coun. Jack Riley called much of the new bylaw “nonsense”
saying “common sense should prevail.”
Crawford noted “not always does common sense prevail with some people.”
She said municipal staff have received “many complaints over the
spring and summer months with respect to excessive noise and has had
no standards against which to evaluate and determine if the noise is
actually excessive and therefore had no legal means to deal with
infractions.”
The new bylaw differentiates between quiet zones, residential zones
and all other zones within the municipality and provides for differing
standards within each type of zone, based on needs. It also recognizes
the requirements for farm machinery in agricultural areas.
One portion deals with noise and vibration which both Crawford and
Elderslie ward Coun. Mark Davis said could be used in council’s fight
to stop the construction of large industrial wind turbines in the
municipality.
Staff will now apply for set fines under the Provincial Offences Act
to simplify enforcement of the bylaw through the issue of infraction
notices, Crawford said.
By MARY GOLEM, SUN TIMES CORRESPONDENT
The Sun Times
www.owensoundsuntimes.com
Labels:
wind turbine noise bylaws
From Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The New Arms Race
from the Huffington Post
Hobbled by opposition from the carbon incumbents and their short-sighted allies on Capitol Hill the Obama administration acknowledged this week that it would not return from Copenhagen with any groundbreaking commitment to control green house gases. Meanwhile, Congress is backsliding on the administration's wise commitment to impose a rational price on carbon. Behind the logjam, a treacherous U.S. Chamber of Commerce, always willing to put its obsequious scraping to Big Oil and King Coal ahead of its duty to our country, has battled every effort to accelerate America's transition to a market-based de-carbonized economy.
The Chamber has continued to argue, idiotically, that energy efficiency and independence will somehow put America at a competitive disadvantage with the Chinese. Meanwhile, the Chinese have shrewdly and strategically positioned themselves to steal America's once substantial lead in renewable power. China will soon make us as dependent on Chinese green technology for the next century as we have been on Saudi oil during the last.
Indeed, the Chinese are treating the energy technology competition if it were an arms race. China is spending as much or more on greentech as it does on its military, hundreds of billions of dollars annually on renewable energy and grid infrastructure improvements. Those investments, if not vigorously countered, will effectively erode America's greentech industry leadership and secure China's dominance. China's economic stimulus package, targeted 38% of spending on greentech, as compared to a miserly 12% of the U.S. stimulus program. By 2013, greentech will account for 15 percent of the Chinese GDP. While the United States is projected to roughly triple its wind generation by 2020, China will increase its capacity twelvefold to a wind generating capability more than twice that of America's. And, while the United States is projected to increase its installed solar generation a modest 33% by 2020, China's solar generation is projected to increase 20,000%.
China's investments in solar technology have so powerfully stimulated the growth of a Chinese solar market that Chinese solar panel manufacturers now far outnumber American ones, and they are achieving low-cost production much faster than their American counterparts. Chinese companies are now flooding the American market with cheap Chinese solar panels and devastating the American manufacturing sector that was gearing up to create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs for our own ailing economy. Hundreds of U.S. solar manufacturers now see their prospects as grim. BP Solar, Evergreen, and General Electric have already announced the closing of American-based solar panel factories and outsourcing, primarily to China. America's leading solar manufacturer, Applied Materials, has opened the largest non-government solar energy research facility in the world in China. Of today's ten leading solar panel manufacturers, only one is American. The largest solar panel installation in the United States is a 70,000 panel, 14.2 megawatt array on Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The array provides more than 25% of the base's power needs, and saves the Pentagon a million dollars annually in energy costs, but the panels' manufacturer was China's Suntech Power Holdings. Even in the thin film solar market, among the last redoubts of American dominance Chinese businesses are squeezing profit.
Last year, America achieved a milestone, building more wind power generation than all new oil and coal generation combined. We have led the world in wind installations for several years, and the wind industry already accounts for more American jobs than coal mining. At one point the U.S. enjoyed global domination of wind turbine manufacturing with great prospects for job creation. Yet today, of the five leading wind turbine manufacturers, only one is American. While Congress dawdles, China is clobbering us. Shenyang Power Group recently inked a deal to be the exclusive supplier of turbines to the largest wind project in the United States, a 36,000 acre, 600 megawatt development in west Texas. The project will create 2,800 new jobs -- 2,400 in China, but only 400 in the United States. As Lu Jinxiang, chief executive of Shenyang's controlling shareholder noted, "This is just the beginning ... [the United States] is an ideal target." China is likewise poised to take away our lead in batteries and electric cars, and has already pulled far ahead of America in automobile fuel efficiency.
Capitol Hill Republicans will soon recognize that the arms race of the 21st century is already in progress with a totalitarian nation that they not long ago called "Red China." But America will not win with more warheads and better rockets. We can only prevail with robust investment in and support of U.S.-based greentech innovation.
from the Huffington Post
Hobbled by opposition from the carbon incumbents and their short-sighted allies on Capitol Hill the Obama administration acknowledged this week that it would not return from Copenhagen with any groundbreaking commitment to control green house gases. Meanwhile, Congress is backsliding on the administration's wise commitment to impose a rational price on carbon. Behind the logjam, a treacherous U.S. Chamber of Commerce, always willing to put its obsequious scraping to Big Oil and King Coal ahead of its duty to our country, has battled every effort to accelerate America's transition to a market-based de-carbonized economy.
The Chamber has continued to argue, idiotically, that energy efficiency and independence will somehow put America at a competitive disadvantage with the Chinese. Meanwhile, the Chinese have shrewdly and strategically positioned themselves to steal America's once substantial lead in renewable power. China will soon make us as dependent on Chinese green technology for the next century as we have been on Saudi oil during the last.
Indeed, the Chinese are treating the energy technology competition if it were an arms race. China is spending as much or more on greentech as it does on its military, hundreds of billions of dollars annually on renewable energy and grid infrastructure improvements. Those investments, if not vigorously countered, will effectively erode America's greentech industry leadership and secure China's dominance. China's economic stimulus package, targeted 38% of spending on greentech, as compared to a miserly 12% of the U.S. stimulus program. By 2013, greentech will account for 15 percent of the Chinese GDP. While the United States is projected to roughly triple its wind generation by 2020, China will increase its capacity twelvefold to a wind generating capability more than twice that of America's. And, while the United States is projected to increase its installed solar generation a modest 33% by 2020, China's solar generation is projected to increase 20,000%.
China's investments in solar technology have so powerfully stimulated the growth of a Chinese solar market that Chinese solar panel manufacturers now far outnumber American ones, and they are achieving low-cost production much faster than their American counterparts. Chinese companies are now flooding the American market with cheap Chinese solar panels and devastating the American manufacturing sector that was gearing up to create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs for our own ailing economy. Hundreds of U.S. solar manufacturers now see their prospects as grim. BP Solar, Evergreen, and General Electric have already announced the closing of American-based solar panel factories and outsourcing, primarily to China. America's leading solar manufacturer, Applied Materials, has opened the largest non-government solar energy research facility in the world in China. Of today's ten leading solar panel manufacturers, only one is American. The largest solar panel installation in the United States is a 70,000 panel, 14.2 megawatt array on Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The array provides more than 25% of the base's power needs, and saves the Pentagon a million dollars annually in energy costs, but the panels' manufacturer was China's Suntech Power Holdings. Even in the thin film solar market, among the last redoubts of American dominance Chinese businesses are squeezing profit.
Last year, America achieved a milestone, building more wind power generation than all new oil and coal generation combined. We have led the world in wind installations for several years, and the wind industry already accounts for more American jobs than coal mining. At one point the U.S. enjoyed global domination of wind turbine manufacturing with great prospects for job creation. Yet today, of the five leading wind turbine manufacturers, only one is American. While Congress dawdles, China is clobbering us. Shenyang Power Group recently inked a deal to be the exclusive supplier of turbines to the largest wind project in the United States, a 36,000 acre, 600 megawatt development in west Texas. The project will create 2,800 new jobs -- 2,400 in China, but only 400 in the United States. As Lu Jinxiang, chief executive of Shenyang's controlling shareholder noted, "This is just the beginning ... [the United States] is an ideal target." China is likewise poised to take away our lead in batteries and electric cars, and has already pulled far ahead of America in automobile fuel efficiency.
Capitol Hill Republicans will soon recognize that the arms race of the 21st century is already in progress with a totalitarian nation that they not long ago called "Red China." But America will not win with more warheads and better rockets. We can only prevail with robust investment in and support of U.S.-based greentech innovation.
Hydra Quebec?
From the Chronicle Herald
Is ‘Hydra’-Quebec eyeing NSP?
By RICHARD SANDERS
Thu. Nov 19 - 4:46 AM
The purchase of New Brunswick Power by Hydro-Quebec, now being debated in the New Brunswick legislature, has implications for electricity security in Nova Scotia, where a similar transaction would complete the transformation of the electricity industry from a publicly-owned utility to a regional monopoly owned by a multinational corporation, headquartered in another jurisdiction.
In Nova Scotia, this metamorphosis from local to absentee control has proceeded without adequate public representation during any of its component transactions, starting with the 1992 sale of publicly-owned Nova Scotia Power Corporation to the private sector through secret negotiations by provincial politicians.
Today, I am concerned that Nova Scotia Power Incorporated’s refusal to deny rumours of private discussions with Hydro-Quebec may mean that private negotiations are currently in play to bring the assets of NSPI’s parent company, Emera, including both NSPI and Bangor Hydro, under the control of Hydro-Quebec. It is not difficult to imagine how such a transaction, coupled with the acquisition of New Brunswick Power, would facilitate Hydro-Quebec’s expansion into U.S. electricity markets.
In this regard, I am not comforted by reports of a provincial law (the 1992 Nova Scotia Power Privatization Act, I assume) which, if not changed, might restrict "non resident" ownership of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated. NSPI is presently owned by the multinational Emera, a fact partially camouflaged by the multinational Emera’s "head office" location in Halifax. If Nova Scotia Power Incorporated can be owned by Emera, why can NSPI not be owned by Hydro-Quebec?
The purchase of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated by Hydro-Quebec, if combined with the planned purchase of New Brunswick Power by Hydro-Quebec, would result in a tectonic shift westward in the control of Nova Scotia’s electrical assets. Like the single immortal head of the nine-headed Hydra in Greek mythology, permanent and ultimate control of all assets of Hydro-(or better Hydra-) Quebec would reside in its (immortal) "head office" in Montreal, even if there were a (mortal, nominal) "head office" in Halifax.
Politicians’ ultimate duty is to represent the public interest, not their own self-interest, not the interests of their family, not even the interests of their cronies and supporters, if the interest of the greater public is damaged. A minimal component of that ultimate duty is to inform the public of government transactions affecting the public interest.
In terms of energy, an informed public is likely to seek electricity security through local control of indigenous renewable generation. Doubly so since Nova Scotia may eventually become an exporter of tidal power.
Few informed citizens would have chosen to convert Nova Scotia’s public electricity utility to a private sector monopoly and fewer still would choose to become gobbelized [sic] by Hydra-Quebec.
Richard Sanders runs Sanders Resource Management, Inc. in Halifax.
Is ‘Hydra’-Quebec eyeing NSP?
By RICHARD SANDERS
Thu. Nov 19 - 4:46 AM
The purchase of New Brunswick Power by Hydro-Quebec, now being debated in the New Brunswick legislature, has implications for electricity security in Nova Scotia, where a similar transaction would complete the transformation of the electricity industry from a publicly-owned utility to a regional monopoly owned by a multinational corporation, headquartered in another jurisdiction.
In Nova Scotia, this metamorphosis from local to absentee control has proceeded without adequate public representation during any of its component transactions, starting with the 1992 sale of publicly-owned Nova Scotia Power Corporation to the private sector through secret negotiations by provincial politicians.
Today, I am concerned that Nova Scotia Power Incorporated’s refusal to deny rumours of private discussions with Hydro-Quebec may mean that private negotiations are currently in play to bring the assets of NSPI’s parent company, Emera, including both NSPI and Bangor Hydro, under the control of Hydro-Quebec. It is not difficult to imagine how such a transaction, coupled with the acquisition of New Brunswick Power, would facilitate Hydro-Quebec’s expansion into U.S. electricity markets.
In this regard, I am not comforted by reports of a provincial law (the 1992 Nova Scotia Power Privatization Act, I assume) which, if not changed, might restrict "non resident" ownership of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated. NSPI is presently owned by the multinational Emera, a fact partially camouflaged by the multinational Emera’s "head office" location in Halifax. If Nova Scotia Power Incorporated can be owned by Emera, why can NSPI not be owned by Hydro-Quebec?
The purchase of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated by Hydro-Quebec, if combined with the planned purchase of New Brunswick Power by Hydro-Quebec, would result in a tectonic shift westward in the control of Nova Scotia’s electrical assets. Like the single immortal head of the nine-headed Hydra in Greek mythology, permanent and ultimate control of all assets of Hydro-(or better Hydra-) Quebec would reside in its (immortal) "head office" in Montreal, even if there were a (mortal, nominal) "head office" in Halifax.
Politicians’ ultimate duty is to represent the public interest, not their own self-interest, not the interests of their family, not even the interests of their cronies and supporters, if the interest of the greater public is damaged. A minimal component of that ultimate duty is to inform the public of government transactions affecting the public interest.
In terms of energy, an informed public is likely to seek electricity security through local control of indigenous renewable generation. Doubly so since Nova Scotia may eventually become an exporter of tidal power.
Few informed citizens would have chosen to convert Nova Scotia’s public electricity utility to a private sector monopoly and fewer still would choose to become gobbelized [sic] by Hydra-Quebec.
Richard Sanders runs Sanders Resource Management, Inc. in Halifax.
Labels:
electricity power in Nova Scotia
Nantitoke Wind Farm
TCI Renewables only has 2 projects in Ontario, the one here in
Adelaide (40 wind Turbines) and a monster one in Nanticoke (133 Wind
Turbines).
The Adelaide one has been quiet since they were shoved back to the GEA
because they didn’t have an agreement with the OPA. Since then,
another project (in Bornish, by FPLE) has resurfaced and they may be
using up the current capacity on the grid for this area, for now, with
that project.
The Nanticoke project on the other hand just released that it will be
having a public meeting on December 21st. This wind farm isn’t really
in the area of any of our existing groups. Hopefully somebody from
there will start one.
http://www.tcirenewables.com/downloads/notice_of_engagement_nanticoke.pdf
Adelaide (40 wind Turbines) and a monster one in Nanticoke (133 Wind
Turbines).
The Adelaide one has been quiet since they were shoved back to the GEA
because they didn’t have an agreement with the OPA. Since then,
another project (in Bornish, by FPLE) has resurfaced and they may be
using up the current capacity on the grid for this area, for now, with
that project.
The Nanticoke project on the other hand just released that it will be
having a public meeting on December 21st. This wind farm isn’t really
in the area of any of our existing groups. Hopefully somebody from
there will start one.
http://www.tcirenewables.com/downloads/notice_of_engagement_nanticoke.pdf
Labels:
Nanticoke wind farms
Emera Makes Turbine Offer
From the Chronicle Herald
Emera makes turbine offer
Firm wants 50 per cent of wind park
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Fri. Nov 20 - 4:46 AM
Nova Scotia Power’s parent company has made an offer to buy a stake in a proposed 20-turbine wind farm in Digby Neck.
Emera Inc. of Halifax has made an undisclosed offer to buy the 50 per cent interest held by Scotian Windfields’ partner SkyPower Corp., which entered into creditor protection when owner Lehman Brothers went bankrupt.
"This presents an opportunity for us as a company to possibly move a project forward and we think it’s a viable project and we would like to see that happen," Emera spokeswoman Sasha Irving said Thursday.
Documents filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice shows a numbered company owned by Emera put the offer in to buy the assets in November and the deal is expected to be finalized Nov. 30.
Earlier this year, Nova Scotia Power purchased the Nuttby Mountain wind farm project in Colchester County from EarthFirst Inc. of Calgary. The project had stalled due to the global credit crisis and NSP’s proposal to develop it is currently before government regulators for approval.
The utility, which is a regula-ted monopoly, is asking the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to approve the $120-million wind project by Dec. 1.
Ms. Irving said it was easier for Emera to make the purchase than Nova Scotia Power, which would require regulatory approval.
"Emera has more flexibility to move quickly in this type of situation . . . (and) we made the decision that we thought it was best that Emera move forward with this one," she said.
Development costs on the Digby wind project were approximately $19.1 million at the time of SkyPower’s filing for creditor protection in August.
The company had also made purchase deposit payments of approximately US$16.2 million to General Electric for the 20 wind turbines.
The total commitment under the GE contract was approximately US$41.1 million, according to court documents.
Barry Zwicker, president and CEO of Scotian Windfields, said the project can now move forward and expects construction to begin in January and have the turbines generating electricity by November 2010.
"We’ve got a partner that is a solid company, and I don’t think there is any fear of Emera going into any creditor protection or bankruptcy process. From our perspective we’re looking forward to working with them and getting the project complete," said Mr. Zwicker Thursday.
The 30-megawatt development has a purchase power agreement, signed in May 2008, with Nova Scotia Power. Thirty megawatts of electricity can power 10,000 homes.
The Digby wind park is key for the utility to meet the government’s renewable energy target of generating 25 per cent of electricity from green sources by 2015.
Emera makes turbine offer
Firm wants 50 per cent of wind park
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Fri. Nov 20 - 4:46 AM
Nova Scotia Power’s parent company has made an offer to buy a stake in a proposed 20-turbine wind farm in Digby Neck.
Emera Inc. of Halifax has made an undisclosed offer to buy the 50 per cent interest held by Scotian Windfields’ partner SkyPower Corp., which entered into creditor protection when owner Lehman Brothers went bankrupt.
"This presents an opportunity for us as a company to possibly move a project forward and we think it’s a viable project and we would like to see that happen," Emera spokeswoman Sasha Irving said Thursday.
Documents filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice shows a numbered company owned by Emera put the offer in to buy the assets in November and the deal is expected to be finalized Nov. 30.
Earlier this year, Nova Scotia Power purchased the Nuttby Mountain wind farm project in Colchester County from EarthFirst Inc. of Calgary. The project had stalled due to the global credit crisis and NSP’s proposal to develop it is currently before government regulators for approval.
The utility, which is a regula-ted monopoly, is asking the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to approve the $120-million wind project by Dec. 1.
Ms. Irving said it was easier for Emera to make the purchase than Nova Scotia Power, which would require regulatory approval.
"Emera has more flexibility to move quickly in this type of situation . . . (and) we made the decision that we thought it was best that Emera move forward with this one," she said.
Development costs on the Digby wind project were approximately $19.1 million at the time of SkyPower’s filing for creditor protection in August.
The company had also made purchase deposit payments of approximately US$16.2 million to General Electric for the 20 wind turbines.
The total commitment under the GE contract was approximately US$41.1 million, according to court documents.
Barry Zwicker, president and CEO of Scotian Windfields, said the project can now move forward and expects construction to begin in January and have the turbines generating electricity by November 2010.
"We’ve got a partner that is a solid company, and I don’t think there is any fear of Emera going into any creditor protection or bankruptcy process. From our perspective we’re looking forward to working with them and getting the project complete," said Mr. Zwicker Thursday.
The 30-megawatt development has a purchase power agreement, signed in May 2008, with Nova Scotia Power. Thirty megawatts of electricity can power 10,000 homes.
The Digby wind park is key for the utility to meet the government’s renewable energy target of generating 25 per cent of electricity from green sources by 2015.
Labels:
Digby wind park
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