Will Wind Energy Blow into Tiny?
By Jack Ellis
What is being proposed?
In November 2004, a public notice was issued announcing an Environmental Screening process for a proposed “Robitaille Farm Wind Park” in Tiny. The screening officially commenced on February 24, 2005. An information open house was held in Lafontaine on April 27th. The Environmental Screening is intended to be completed by the end of 2005, when detailed design could commence.
The site under consideration (see below) is in Concessions 17, 18 and 19 West, thought to be Tiny’s most favourable area for winds. This is near the shore communities of Cedar Point, Kingswood Acres, Georgian Highlands, Sand Castle and Cove Beaches, and right in the midst of the rural residential and farm community. It is estimated that 350 residences are within 2 km of the proposed wind park. The area is unspoiled, has very low ambient noise and night lighting levels, and its woodlots are home to many birds and other wildlife.
The proponent of the wind farm is Ventus Energy, Inc. Currently, Ventus is proposing to develop over 4,000 MW of wind power projects on 25 potential sites in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. So far, they claim to have secured land rights to over 12 million acres of land.
In Tiny, Ventus initially proposes to install 6 wind turbine generators - each generating about 1.5 megawatts - for a total installed capacity of approximately 9 megawatts. They will also need to build access roads, transmission lines, distribution lines, transformers for each turbine, and an interconnection facility to the existing power grid.
They say each turbine will be between 96 m and 138.5 m (312 to 450 feet) tall, inclusive of the blades, which is three to ten times the height of the surrounding woodlots. In Europe - where Denmark produces 20% of its electricity from wind, and Germany 6% - they now regularly install turbines generating 3 megawatts, with three rotor blades each 44 m (143 feet) long.
Why is it being proposed?
The Robitaille Farm Wind Park would be one of many projects designed to increase the share of Canada’s energy generated from “green” sources.
Canada now generates just 445 megawatts of power from wind 0.2% of our electricity needs much lower than many European countries. Alberta now leads Canada with 275 megawatts from wind. Ontario currently has only 15 megawatts (MW) of wind power installed, but last November the province announced its support for ten renewable energy projects of which five, aggregating 356 MW, are based on wind. In April of this year the government issued a second Request for Proposals to encourage renewable energy projects up to a further 1000 MW. Both of these announcements are part of a multi-stage process intended to bring up to 2700 MW of renewable generation to market by 2010. Proposals for a $150 million wind park near Sault Ste. Marie and a $75 million one near Collingwood currently are being studied.
The April 27 information session attracted a full house, provoking a lively exchange of opinions. Ventus Energy brought in an expert from California who provided an enthusiastic sales pitch. He noted that the initial six generators at the Tiny site could grow to 30, should the winds prove favourable.
Why should you be interested?
Although wind power produces electricity without emitting greenhouse or other polluting gases, it is not without environmental impacts. The most common are aesthetic. The wind farm will be visible for a considerable distance, and people have mixed opinions about this. The vision of slowly soaring rotor blades appeals to some, while others see visual pollution. Also, some people are concerned about the birds that could be killed by the generators, especially during migration.
If the wind energy available in the proposed study area of Tiny Township makes this project viable, then it is possible that other wind park projects could follow this one. The only restriction stipulated by the Ontario government is that a distance of just 1 km must separate different project sites. (Many wind power sites in Europe are several kilometers long.)
Unlike in Europe, where governments have mapped out areas where wind parks may be developed, Ontario leaves this up to environmental assessment and local zoning. Thus, it is very important that residents of Tiny be aware of the potential issues.
Europe is now going more for offshore wind parks, some many kilometers from land. In some areas where wind parks are almost everywhere to be seen, citizens have successfully been calling for the de-commissioning of existing wind parks.
Studies of wind parks have identified many potential impacts: on property values, aesthetics, noise, light, bird mortality, wildlife displacement, forestry, agriculture, telecommunication interference, subterranean works, traffic and construction Infrastructure, de-commissioning.
The most serious have been found to be on the aesthetics of landscape and on property values. Even transmission lines adjacent to or visible from a property reduce its market value. The proposed wind generators, at 400 feet tall, are much higher than any transmission line towers. Six wind generators let alone thirty - towering over the woodlots of north Tiny will change the character of the whole area.
The proposed site experiences high numbers of migrating birds in spring and fall. The adjacent woodlots are home to many birds throughout the summer. Avian mortality is a reality with wind generators, and in Tiny the increase in mortality rate could be significant.
What can you do?
Keep watching the local press and the Tiny Cottager website (www.tinycottager.org) for information and opportunities to participate in the current environmental screening.