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Offshore Wind Development Under Discussion - August 22, 2008
New Turbines Coming Online - June 21, 2008
Reporter Finds Turbines to be Awe-Inspiring - March 25, 2008
Wind Farm Impact Examined; Councillors Pay Visit to Facility in Port Burwell - March 20, 2008
'Harvesting' wind, sun right thing to do - March 15, 2008
Turbines impress officials; C-K councillors visit Port Burwell facility - March 14, 2008
Wind Energy Fear Based on Ignorance - March 6, 2008
Windsor Star: Public Comment Sought on Landfill Wind Farm Project - February 5, 2008
Tillsonburg News: Offshore Wind Power Gets Green Light - January 25, 2008
Tillsonburg News: New Wind Turbines Going Up - November 23, 2007
Thomson Financial: Vestas wins Canadian order for 18 1.65 MW windmills COPENHAGEN - June 13, 2007
Windsor Star Published: Wind farms welcomed Gary Rennie, Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Offshore wind development under discussion
US congresswoman visits Bayham to investigate international possibilities
By Jeff Helsdon - Staff Writer, Tillsonburg Daily News
Is an international wind power development in Lake Erie in the offing?
Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur toured the site of the Erie Shores Wind Farm Wednesday morning. She represents the stretch of Ohio shoreline from just outside of Cleveland to the Michigan border. Accompanying Kaptur were officials with the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
A meeting between Canadian government representatives, Bayham officials including Mayor Lynn Acre and Erie Shores personnel followed the tour. The agenda for the day stated the purpose of the meeting was to develop a joint strategy for exploring development of wind resources along the Canadian-American border. One of the discussion items was prospects and strategies for joint development.
When the concept of Erie Shores was first being weighed by Jim and Jay Wilgar, they were initially looking at the possibility of an offshore development. Finding too many regulatory challenges at the time, they went ahead with an onshore development. Since then, Ontario has developed a policy for offshore wind turbines, but prohibitive costs have prevented any development.
Kaptur said it has been her dream to see the Erie Shores wind farm since she first learned of it during a discussion with Peterborough MP (Cons) Dean Del Mastro at an international conference.
“I’m one of the members of our congress who is dedicated to energy independence for our country, our continent,” she said. “The idea is what can we do individually and together to make our continent a better place.” Her goal is to explore different power options for the Lake Erie ecosystem. Recent legislative changes will mean a percentage of Ohio’s power must come from renewable sources. The other challenge facing the state is the fact cost of power is currently 12 to 17¢/kilowatt-hour.
Kaptur said she wanted the day to include a discussion of what the next steps were and what type of prototype can be looked at to move the plan forward. Robert Kozar, interim director of research development for the University of Toledo, said it’s imperative that Ohio officials to get together with people who have already studied the wind regime and avian issues associated with wind power.
While asking about the actual turbines purchased for Erie Shores, Kaptur talked of a vision to see the Lake Erie basin become a manufacturing centre for turbines “If our automotive industry is in distress, why can’t we retool some of those factories,” Acre asked. “That’s something they’ll be looking into.”
Jim Wilgar of AIM PowerGen said it was amazing what had developed from a conversation with son Jay over a bowl of Corn Flakes in 2002. “To be standing today with all these people with fascinating backgrounds and dynamic leadership, I can tell you it’s a thrill,” he said. “Let’s make sure this is not the first and only time we meet to ensure this future takes place.”
One of the topics of explored during the afternoon meeting was forming a joint Lake Erie agency with representation from state, provincial, federal and municipal governments that border the lake. There was also talk of investigating the joint wind energy capacity and the projected demand 25 years down the road. Such information would be shared through the Bowling Green State University website.
There was a commitment from all parties for another meeting. It is tentatively scheduled for spring 2009 in Ohio. And Acre did bring up the proposal for a ferry between Port Burwell and Fairport Harbor, Ohio with Kaptur. “We didn’t actually get to discuss it,” Acre said. “She was more focused on energy.”
New turbines coming online
Chatham Daily News, June 21, 2008By Jeff Helsdon, Staff Writer
Ontario’s power grid is about to get greener.
The 12 turbines in AIM PowerGen’s Frogmore and Cultus initiatives were scheduled to start adding 20 megawatts of wind power into the Ontario grid this week.
Both were what is termed standard offer projects through Hydro One, where up to 10 megawatts of power can be generated and added to the grid through existing infrastructure. Both the Frogmore and Cultus projects consist of six 1.6-megawatt Vesta turbines. Each 10 megawatts of power is sufficient to power 3,000 homes.
Erection of the towers, necel and blades was completed about a month ago. Since then, crews have been working on installing wiring and the computers used to operate the turbines and maximize wind generation. “There is a great deal of work done to ensure the computer is maximizing the output levels and ensuring the pitch of the blades to the wind is at the maximum,” said AIM spokesman Jim Wilgar.
The past few days have seen testing of all switching, wiring, phone and electronic components in the turbines. “All the electronic aspects of the controls have to be carefully tested to ensure they are working properly,” Wilgar said.
The turbines have been powered up as part of the testing. Some of the generators were brought fully on line Friday, with the remainder scheduled to be powered up Wednesday. A third part of the initiative, termed the Clear Creek project, adds another 10 megawatts, but is not scheduled to go online until later this summer. Wilgar said details of the connection to the grid are now being finalized.
When Clear Creek is completed, work will continue on Erie Shores 2. That initiative will see infilling of new turbines between existing ones, plus extending it further west. “The future of that project is dependent on decision making by the Ministry of Energy,” Wilgar said.
AIM PowerGen, which is a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Generation of Great Britain, is also working on wind farms in Chatham-Kent and north of Shelbourne.
Reporter finds turbines to be awe-inspiring
Posted By TREVOR TERFLOTH, Chatham Daily News - March 25, 2008
Up until now, I've only seen these gargantuan things from a distance while driving at about 80 clicks on the highway. Although it seems like I've been writing about them since the Reagan administration. Wind farms. What was merely a concept in many Ontario communities several years ago has taken the province by storm - especially in Chatham-Kent. In case you've been living in a bomb shelter. The list goes on: Kruger, Gengrowth, AIM . . . whose officials it seems I talk to more than many of my extended family.
On Wednesday, I tagged along for the Port Burwell wind farm tour organized by AIM PowerGen and Chatham-Kent's economic development department. Chatham Coun. Larry Mansfield Robbins, Chatham Coun. Steve Pickard and Wallaceburg Coun. Sheldon Parsons also made the trip. There have been a litany of concerns on wind farms, ranging from bird migration patterns to shadow flicker. However, noise worries and intrusiveness are biggies.
In Port Burwell, the blades were turning as fast as they could on this brisk and rainy day. And yes, they made a sound. When standing outside approximately 330 metres away (the minimum required setback) the intermittent noise reminded me of a jet flying off in the distance. By that, I mean the actual sound, not the volume per se. This wasn't like a 747 landing on the runway at Pearson International Airport. More like a plane travelling high above the clouds. Sitting inside the van with the windows up, at the same distance, the councillors and myself made sure there was no talking - and breathed as little as possible.
Just like we were in a submarine in hostile waters. Even then, we could barely hear a peep. At 120 metres, just outside the wind farm interpretive centre, I found the wind noise could be annoying. However, inside the building, while talking normally, we could hear practically nothing. Right underneath a turbine, personally I found it sounded like wind rustling through a forest. Don't get me wrong. We didn't camp out by the turbines to see how we'd react to prolonged exposure. However, sound tolerance is probably just as subjective as the visual aspect. Maybe it's just my upbringing. Growing up in St. Catharines, Ont., right beside the Welland Canal, passing ships would create this low-pitched rumbling that you're certainly aware of, but aren't really bothered by. While living in Toronto, I found the numerous streetcars barrelling up and down the tracks soothing - almost like white noise - putting you to sleep in a matter of minutes.
As for the visuals, I admit I'm biased. I find turbines to be awe-inspiring structures that look a heck of a lot better than power lines, telephone poles and cellphone towers. But once again, that's just me. The moral of the story is to go out and see for yourself. Whatever wind company is offering a tour - and whatever your view on turbines - I highly recommended it. If you support turbines, check them out and take some pictures. If you're skeptical, confirm your suspicions. Talk to some neighbouring residents.
If you don't want to hear what the wind companies have to say, then don't listen to what they have to say. Simple math. Just park yourself under a turbine for however long you'd like and look, listen and touch. Don't let others determine what they sound like, whether these people are wind officials or wind critics. If this is a really big issue for you, please, don't write off the opportunity.
You owe it to yourself and your family.
Wind Farm Impact Examined; Councillors Pay Visit to Facility in Port Burwell
Posted By TREVOR TERFLOTH, Chatham Daily News - March 20, 2008
After a first-hand glimpse, another group of councillors say they are more confident with wind power coming to Chatham-Kent.A second tour of the Port Burwell wind project was held Wednesday, this time with Chatham Coun. Larry Mansfield Robbins, Chatham Coun. Steve Pickard and Wallaceburg Coun. Sheldon Parsons taking part.
The Chatham Daily News was also in attendance to view some of AIM PowerGen's 66 turbines in the area.
While it was a rainy day, the wind was blowing the blades as fast as they could go, said Jay Wilgar, AIM's vice-president of field operations. "At this wind speed, it's about as loud as it's going to get," he said. He said the noise level is between 50 and 53 decibels at the base of a turbine.
Councillors had a chance to view the towering structures from different distances, from the outside, as well as inside a van. All were in consensus that the noise was very minimal. "Unless you really tried to listen to it, you probably would never hear it," Robbins said.
Port Burwell had a 330-metre minimum turbine setback, or distance allowed from the nearest residence. Wilgar said AIM's Chatham-Kent proposals are designed with a 450-metre setback in mind. Parsons said the turbine noise he experienced was "imperceptible." However, he still has several questions on the cumulative effects of multiple wind farms within Chatham-Kent. "I need a lot more answers on the 'massing' of these. What is the effect of one on top of the other?" he said. "(And) my opinion can still be swayed with regard to the impact on (bird) migration and habitat."
Parsons added he plans to listen to all concerns and objections during the process. Pickard believes all issues were satisfactorily addressed and that he has all the information he needs. "We have a moral obligation to investigate alternative energy," he said. Pickard called the noise a "non-issue," saying the visual aspect is a more valid concern - even though he doesn't personally mind the look of turbines dotting the landscape. Both Pickard and Robbins said they could live near a turbine, while Parsons admitted he probably wouldn't, if given a choice. "I can certainly sympathize with some of the people that say 'Why does it have to be near me?'" Parsons said.
As the sky was overcast on Wednesday, it wasn't possible to see any shadow flicker. This occurs due to the moving turbine blades. Earlier this month, Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew and North Kent Coun. Joe Faas took a similar tour. Lynn Acre, mayor of the Municipality of Bayham, said there was some opposition to wind energy in Port Burwell at first, but that this has since dissipated.
"I think everyone was convinced after the fact," she said. Acre said there has been a huge impact on tourism, especially through the wind power interpretive centre. Area farmer Lucien Dujardin has five turbines near him, including two actually on his land. He said the only problem was when one became squeaky and needed an adjustment.
"They're not noisy," he said. "You can hardly hear them." Dujardin also said it takes the "perfect storm" to cause any shadow flicker. Resident Ken Roesch called the turbines a beautiful attraction, saying they can help supplement the province's energy needs. "Think of all the gas, oil and coal we're saving on," he said.
Betty Matthews, Roesch's sister, said she's also impressed with the wind farm. "(There's) maybe a slight noise, but nothing big," she said. "I think it has put life in this town." However, not everyone is pleased to see the project up and running. Tony Csinos has a turbine approximately 400 metres from his property. He had fought the wind project since the beginning, but admitted he was a minority within the community.
"To me, it's the biggest blight on the countryside I've ever seen," he said, noting he also finds the swishing noise irritating. Csinos said he has no problem with wind power, but believes it is an expensive way to harness energy. On Tuesday, Chatham-Kent council votes on four wind power sites that Gengrowth - a different company based in Toronto - is proposing for the municipality. The issue had been deferred from a February planning meeting.
'Harvesting' wind, sun right thing to do
David Clements Wallaceburg - Chatham Kent Daily News
March 15, 2008
Sir: Today is a new time. New from what it was when a lot of us were young. We must change. As responsible people we have to look at what we have done to our world and what we will do to the world of our children and grandchildren. How can we condemn them to a world that is ugly? We must look to clean air and the way to do that is with wind and sun. People say the windmills are unattractive. I say they look good compared to the coal-burning plants that belch out smog and poison daily, their demands growing exponentially. A study done by 15 scientists from 13 countries reveals that worldwide coal-burning power plants pose "the single greatest challenge" in combating climate change.
Two thousand die prematurely each year from breathing-related problems. Carbon emissions, nitrogen oxide, plus sulphur oxide equals polluted air. Doesn't this sound pretty ugly? And it will get uglier. Nuclear power plants are just as bad in their own way. In 1986 Chernobyl laid a portion of the earth's surface to waste. This surface is still dead with hundreds of thousands of acres that can't be used. Workers that clean it up wear protective uniforms and can only be in one spot for two minutes a day. They are paid a thousand dollars a week. Do these uniforms protect them or will they die a horrible, painful death before their time?
The Three Mile Island near meltdown of 1974 - I guess we dodged a bullet there. There are 450 nuclear plants in the world, 100-plus in the U.S., and approximately 18 in Canada. I pray to God these plants don't melt down.
If you don't believe me, look it up on the Internet. It is all there.
In closing I feel the right thing to do is build more windmills and solar energy systems. They provide clean air for the future and the future of our families.Turbines impress officials; C-K councillors visit Port Burwell facility
Posted By TREVOR TERFLOTH, Chatham Daily News - March 12, 2008
Citing minimal noise and increased tourism, wind farms are nothing to fear, say two councillors after a recent road trip to Port Burwell. Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew and North Kent Coun. Joe Faas travelled to the southwestern Ontario community, touring some of AIM PowerGen's 66 turbines at the site. Port Burwell is located on the Lake Erie shoreline, near Aylmer. The trip, which occurred on March 1, was organized by the Markham, Ont.-based company, as well as Chatham-Kent's economic development department. Crew said she had never seen a turbine up close before, but called it a "peaceful feeling" when she finally did.
"It was a very educational and eye-opening experience for me," Crew said. "We were right up underneath this massive tower. The sound was like standing beside your air conditioner unit that's running outside - we didn't have to raise our voices." Crew said while 300 metres away from the turbine, she couldn't hear anything. She said the wind was blowing moderately that day. She also said it was sunny, causing some shadow flicker, which occurs due to the moving turbine blades.
However, Crew said this didn't have a major impact because of the setbacks, or distance from homes. "If I stood in it, it would get on my nerves," she said. "But there's no way that shadow would reach anybody where it was. A shadow can only go so far." Crew said she even saw a flock of birds flying in a 'V' formation near a turbine. She said she talked to local residents while at a variety store, asking for their thoughts on the towering structures. "Seniors tend to tell you what they think," she said. "(One man) said, 'you know, they don't bother anybody.'" The man told her there was some apprehension in the beginning, but much of it has subsided. She said the Chatham-Kent entourage, which included economic development staff, also met with local politicians.
"They embraced this whole concept," she said. "They are marketing it - they just don't understand what all our commotion is right now." On Monday night, approximately 100 people attended an information session hosted in Chatham by local wind farm critics. They raised issues such as noise, shadow flicker, wildlife impact and questionable energy efficiency. A lawyer for the Chatham-Kent Wind Action Group has also asked for an environmental assessment of the entire municipality. However, Faas was impressed by the trip and told The Chatham Daily News he could probably even live near a turbine. "I could see no problem with that," he said. "(I was) there listening to it first-hand. And if you go back to the setbacks, that diminishes the noise too."
Like Crew, Faas compared the wind farm noise volume to a running air conditioner. He recommended critics visit an operational site in order to ease their concerns. "Have they asked to take a tour of a wind farm?" he said. "I'm sure these wind farm people would be more than happy." Faas said there is an interpretation centre at Port Burwell featuring information about the project. There were also more than 7,000 visitor signatures, he said.
He said in his opinion, the turbines didn't take away from the landscape. "It was a intriguing sight," he said. "As far as not being a tourist attraction, I kind of think it might be if it's drawing that number of people." While only two councillors attended in Port Burwell, Faas said that was probably due to prior commitments, as there was interest in the subject. Chatham-Kent's economic development department is planning a future tour later this month, possibly with more councillors involved.
Wind Energy Fear Based on Ignorance
Opinion Section, Chatham Daily News - March 6, 2008 Written by Rev. John A. Giurin of Chatham
Sir: My continued reaction to the many letters written against the installation and use of windmill generators in Chatham-
Kent is one of dismay and disappointment at their short-sightedness and ignorance. People talk in sweeping generalities about ruined vistas, decreased property values and harm to the environment as if these were well-proven facts. They make uninformed and biased comments about the viability about the effectiveness and need of such clean power as if it were gospel truth.
Yet they give no consideration to the many benefits and possibilities of these quiet giants, which I find very disconcerting
in this era of economic downturn and global environmental concerns. Windmills are a proven and successful way to generate power with a minimum impact on the environment, so much so that the European Economic Union has legislated their increased adoption. Certainly if the Europeans, who are extremely concerned with art and appearance, are interested in such large devices and not overly concerned about their aesthetics, then we too should stop worrying about how they look.
Also, having seen several large installations in Canada and the U.S., my personal opinion is that they are a source of fascination rather than ugliness.Furthermore, being from Toronto, and having driven into that great lakeside city under a yellow-brown coat of smog, I would rather see a line of windmills through clear, unpolluted air rather than a haze of smog caused by coal-fired generating stations. One would also do well to remember that the Netherlands benefitted greatly from the use of windmills, as they helped drive the economic engine of the land for decades, and few people would regard those devices as unsightly.
As far as the environment is concerned, especially with regards to our avian friends, the majority of studies indicate that harm to birds from moving windmill blades is minimal. In fact, hydro lines pose a much greater risk to our flying feathered friends than windmills. Remember as well that the runoff from coal mining facilities causes far more harm to birds, fish and other wildlife than the damage caused by any windmill installation.
Nuclear plants also pose a far greater threat to our planet and its living inhabitants due to the great amount of toxic and radio-active waste that they generate, along with electricity. In addition to those worries generated (pun intended) by nuclear and fossil-fuel powered generating stations lies the greater concern of our fossil-fuel based economy, one which has both benefitted and harmed not only our local economy, but our environment as well. With global warming being a real and verifiable problem, and coal powered generating stations contributing some 30 per cent of all greenhouse gases, it's pretty clear that we need viable long-term solutions for the use and production of energy. When you also consider how the coal used to fire our generators
is "mined," windmills start looking better and better.Consider this. In West Virginia, which supplies most of the coal used by Hydro One, many of the producers simply strip away mountains to get at their product. In effect, they turn mountains into molehills, void of all vegetation and wildlife. Then, when the precious cargo has been extracted from the soil, the waste material, which is highly acidic, is used as fill in the surrounding lowlands. This practice ravages the land, leaves a visual blight that is nothing less than horrific, reduces the value of the land, and irrevocably ruins the environment in a way that is almost unimaginable, but it is completely verifiable.
We here in Chatham-Kent have an opportunity to do something good by deciding for the use of windmills, a decision
that will leave us no room for regret. Indeed, if we do a little creative thinking, windmills could be an economic boon for our community. First of all, they provide extra needed income for the farmer or landowner that allows them to be built. Surely this should be reason enough given how hard our farmers have to work just to break even. Furthermore, if you're thinking about attracting visitors, wouldn't it be great to invite them into a community that cares enough about the environment to actually
do something about it? Then of course there is the potential economic prize of actually getting involved not only in the installation and use of windmills, but of their manufacture and marketing as well. Certainly with all the clever people
and manufacturing capacity in Chatham-Kent it would make perfect sense to start being a supplier of windmills. This would not only help reduce the cost for local implementation, it would demonstrate that our community is an imaginative and forward-thinking one that is willing to actually do something about the environment, the economy and our need for smart solutions
for our electrical worries.Public comment sought on landfill wind farm project
Gary Rennie
The Windsor Star
Tuesday, February 05, 2008Nobody wants to live beside a landfill. How about a landfill buffered by 120-meter-high wind turbines? The Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority may get an answer to that question, after giving approval in principal Tuesday to hosting part of an $80-million wind farm project. Comments from the public will be sought and various municipal, Essex County and senior government
approvals are still needed. "We'll want to hear from the residents who live around the whole landfill site," said authority manager Todd Pepper. "There's a lot of hurdles for us and them to get through."
The landfill's liaison committee, which includes residents who live within a mile of the regional landfill, will be asked to comment. Roland Garant, a farmer who lives northeast of the landfill and chairs the committee, said he hasn't heard any negative comments about the wind project. Garant said he's visited other wind turbine farms and is generally in favour of "green energy" proposals. However, Garant said he's never really thought about what it would be like to live within constant view of giant
turbines. He said it would be helpful if one full-sized turbine was constructed so residents could get a better
appreciation of the size and impact.
Pepper estimated five or six turbines could be sited on roughly 900 acres of buffer land around the landfill on County Road 18. Most of that land is now leased out by the authority for farming. The authority would get about $10,000 in annual revenue for each turbine on its property. None of the turbines would be on the 300-acre site of the landfill itself. As a result, Pepper didn't think the
waste authority needed any amendments to its certificate of approval from the environment ministry to permit
the wind turbines. Tim Sullivan, a project site consultant for AIM PowerGen Corporation, said 18 wind turbines generating about
30 megawatts of power are proposed for an area that would straddle parts of Kingsville and Essex. "It's still in the early stages of development," said Sullivan. AIM just recently got approval to erect a test tower to measure winds, and its environmental screening report wouldn't start until next spring, he said.
The authority's own green energy project -- generating electricity from the collection of methane gas given off by rotting garbage -- is still bogged down, in part because of the numbers of wind farms seeking approvals. Pepper said the authority has all the approvals it needs to build the methane gas generating facility, except for Ontario Energy Board permission to connect to the hydro grid. Pepper said he doesn't understand how AIM was able to get OEB approval to connect to the hydro grid at the
Kingsville substation for their project, which is in its very early stages. Pepper is worried that the numerous wind energy projects are going to use up all the local capacity for grid connection before the authority's project.
© The Windsor Star 2008Offshore wind power gets green light
Construction costs would be large: Wilgar
By Jeff Helsdon STAFF WRITER
Friday January 25, 2008Even though the Ontario government has lifted the moratorium on offshore wind development, one consultant predicts turbines won’t be popping up in Lake Erie any time soon. Prior to AIM PowerGen starting to acquire options in 2001 to build what is now the Erie Shores Wind Farm, the company was looking at the possibility of commencing with an offshore development in Lake Erie between Elgin County and Long Point. AIM consultant Jim Wilgar explained the lakebed is already segmented and leased for natural gas development. At the time, AIM had identified sections that weren’t leased yet and approached the ministry about the possibility of wind power development. "The ministry, at the time, hadn’t given any real thought to wind power in any of the Great Lakes," Wilgar said. Around the same time, other developers were also looking at the possibility of offshore wind power generation. One such proposal was to build turbines in the Leamington area. "There was a tremendous public disagreement," Wilgar said of the Leamington proposal. "The ministry slapped a moratorium on any offshore wind development by anyone." Minister of Natural Resources Donna Canfield announced last week (Jan. 17) the moratorium would be lifted and the government would accept applications for offshore power development.
Since the freeze was put in place, the province has partnered with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory to evaluate offshore wind potential. It has also analyzed the potential of the lakes and the possible impact on birds and bats.
While AIM was originally looking at rights in the area adjacent to the Erie Shores Wind Farm, the company ended up leasing property off Nanticoke. Wilgar said this area has better connectivity into the grid.
The company completed a study to look at the potential of offshore wind generation. The study concluded it was feasible, but the construction costs are large. "There is considerable research and further study required before offshore wind development would be considered feasible," he said.
Wilgar said offshore wind is popular in Europe, but the amount paid per kilowatt-hour is three to four times the rate in Ontario. Also, there is no problem with the build-up of layers of ice in Europe that occur in Lake Erie. When one layer of ice slips under another, it provides tremendous force on the base, requiring stronger construction. In addition, the bases have to be 25 to 35 feet deep to hit bedrock and the developer would have to string cable to connect to the grid on shore, all of which would add to the cost.
"There is considerable research and further study required before offshore wind development would be considered feasible," Wilgar said.
Even something as simple as a detailed study of the wind regime is complicated when done offshore. When Erie Shores was built, it was a matter of having the appropriate permits and erecting a 60 to 80-foot test tower. Offshore, the process is more complicated when such a tower has to be anchored to the bottom. "You need vast, vast amounts of generation to offset the costs," Wilgar said.
Dr. Scott Petrie, research director with the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund, said waterfowl are one of the bird groups most affected by the installation of turbines. "I’m not close to being convinced studies have been done to show offshore turbines don’t affect waterfowl," he said. "We have a new minister and she wants to be perceived as looking green."
LPWWRF flies Long Point to count waterfowl during spring and fall migration. Petrie said waterfowl could be found as far as two to three kilometres offshore, in an area stretching from the tip of Long Point almost to Clear Creek on the mainland.New wind turbines going up Green power produced will be enough for thousands of homes
By Jeff Helsdon STAFF WRITER
The Tillsonburg News
Friday November 23, 2007The south end of Norfolk’s landscape has a new temporary feature.
A crane reaching 322 feet towards the clouds can be seen for miles. It is currently between the Second and Third Concession Roads. The crane is being used to put the blades, necel and third section on additional wind turbines being built along the Lake Erie shoreline. Able to lift 900,000 pounds, the crane was rented from Cooper Crane Rentals in Toronto and brought to Norfolk on 15 separate trucks.
Called the Frogmore, Cultus and Clear Creek projects, each consists of six 1.6-megawatt Vesta turbines. The development is being completed by AIM PowerGen, the developers of the Erie Shores Wind Farm.
Originally only the Frogmore and Clear Creek projects were planned. But, when a delay occurred in two projects in Haldimand County near Dunnville, a decision was made to build more turbines in Norfolk County. It is to the west of the other existing turbines.
"That construction will be shifted to a third Norfolk project called Clear Creek," said Jim Wilgar of AIM.
The turbines are being erected under what is termed a standard offer contract from Ontario Power Generation. Erie Shores Wind Farm was developed through a bidding process for additional green power. A standard offer is different in it is developed under three criteria:• The rate paid for the power generated is a straight 11 cents per kilowatt-hour and there is no bidding involved.
• Standard offer projects can’t be greater than 10 megawatts.
• The power must connect into the Ontario grid through existing power lines.
"You don’t bid, you apply for permission for connectability to hydro as well as you must meet all municipal official plan, zoning and site plan requirements," Wilgar said, adding federal environmental regulations and provincial setbacks must also be met.
Since construction of the Frogmore and Cultus projects started first, these are further along. Electricity generated from both projects will connect into the Ontario grid at Concession 7 and Lower Side Road. A connection point for the Clear Creek project hasn’t been finalized yet.
"We’ve been told we can connect it, it’s just a matter of where," Wilgar said.
Although work on options and zoning started n 2002, preliminary work on Cultus and Frogmore started in August. The first step is building access roads for the heavy construction equipment. Then the bases are built. Each base is 12 feet deep and is constructed of concrete and rebar. There are 1.6 million pounds of concrete in each base, along with 74,000 of steel rebar. Erection of the bottom sections of the tower - which is done with a smaller crane - started about a month ago. Adding the top sections and assembled blades started in the last couple of weeks after the larger crane was brought in.
The Frogmore and Cultus projects are slated for completion at the end of December. Following a testing and commissioning process, the turbines are expected to be generating power for the Ontario grid in March. The Clear Creek project is about a month behind since development started later.
Each turbine running at full speed will produce enough green electricity to power about 800 homes. Collectively, the three developments will produce enough electricity for more than 14,000 homes.
Wind power will help wean Ont. off coal, company official says
The Canadian Press
Mon 19 Nov 2007
Section: Quebec-Ontario Regional General News
SARNIA, Ont. _ The president of a private firm that is in the process of erecting half a dozen giant wind turbines in southwestern Ontario says wind power can help the province wean itself off coal-fired plants.
The 80-metre high turbines being built near Forest will provide clean power to about 3,000 local homes, said Glen Estill of Sky Generation. Estill said his company has plans to build three more of them in the same area. Once completed, the turbines will generate electricity that will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority and to Bullfrog Power, which sells ``green'' electricity to customers across the province.
Currently, Ontario gets less than one per cent of its power from wind. That figure could reach 20 per cent by the year 2025, Estill said. That's more than enough to replace the coal plants, which generate about 16 per cent of the province's electricity.More than that, wind power will help conserve Ontario's natural gas supply, which is a non-renewable resource, he said. But he believes the biggest benefits could be environmental, noting that coal has been blamed for smog, acid rain and climate change. ``You're never going to get all your power from wind, but it'll be more important,'' as the years go by. Estill said the Great Lakes region is ideal for turbines because ``wind accelerates as it moves across flat water bodies.'' About 2,000 kilometres of Great Lakes shoreline is located in Ontario. The turbines cost about $3 million each to build and install.
Some have expressed concern that the big blades will kill birds. But Estill says that worry is overstated.
``Each turbine kills an average of two birds a year, which is less than the average house cat,'' he said.
(Sarnia Observer)
Copyright © 2007 The Canadian Press
Vestas receives orders for Spain, Canada and the Netherlands
WindTech International - Thursday, 14 June 2007
Vestas Eólica has received an order for 21 units of the V90-1.8MW wind turbine for the project Caldereros in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.
The order comprises supply, installation, commissioning, VestasOnline Business SCADA system as well as a service contract for five years. The order has been placed by Enel Unión Fenosa Renovables (EUFER).
Vestas Canada has received an order for 18 units of the V82-1.65MW turbine for three projects near Lake Erie in the province of Ontario, Canada. This is the second order placed by AIM PowerGen under Ontario Power Authority's Standard Offer Program. The order comprises of delivery, commissioning and a two-year service and maintenance agreement. The 18 units of the V82-1.65MW turbine will be installed at three project sites. Each site will comprise of six turbines with a total installed capacity of 9.9MW. Delivery is scheduled for the fall of 2008 and commissioning is expected to be completed in December 2008.
Vestas Benelux has received an order for delivery of 21 units of the V90-3.0MW turbine. The order has been awarded by the Dutch consortium Growind, consisting of 21 private investors. The contract includes delivery, installation, commissioning, Vestas Turbine Watch - Condition Monitoring, the VestasOnline Business SCADA system as well as a service agreement for 10 years. The project will be located near the port of Eemshaven in the very northern part of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. With a total installed capacity of 63MW. Delivery of the turbines will start at the end 2007, and the wind power plant will be completed during the second quarter of 2008.
Vestas wins Canadian order for 18 1.65 MW windmills
COPENHAGEN (Thomson Financial) - June 13, 2007
Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems AS said its Vestas Canada division has received an order for 18 turbines of the type V82-1.65 MW from Canadian wind energy developer AIM PowerGen.
The wind turbines will be installed at three project sites near Lake Erie in Ontario, Canada.
Delivery is scheduled for the fall of 2008 and commissioning is expected to be completed in December 2008, Vestas said, adding that the order also includes a two-year service agreement. AIM PowerGen, which is a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Generation Ltd, previously ordered 24 V82-1.65 MW turbines from Vestas in December 2006.
gustav.sandstrom@thomson.com gs/jfr
Wind farms welcomed
Gary Rennie, Windsor Star
Published: Wednesday, May 30, 2007Lakeshore's farmers are keen to have lucrative wind turbines sprouting on their lands, and don't want to wait for an $80,000 County of Essex study on alternative energy to be finished, a public meeting was told Tuesday.
The potential revenue from leases with wind farm developers is "the best thing that's ever happened" in rural areas in the past 25 years, said Tilbury North farmer Paul Courey.
Courey, also a lawyer, said he's signed a lease for a wind turbine and also plans to build a smaller one for personal energy use. "I hope the county gets out of the way," he said, as about 100 people attending the meeting at the Comber Community Centre mostly applauded.
Lakeshore planner Tom Storey unveiled the town's draft official plan and zoning bylaw changes to accommodate large and small wind farms. After assessing feedback from the public meeting and other comments, a final draft of the town's planning changes should be ready for June 18. Council could deal with it as soon as July 10. The changes then go to Essex County's planning department for approval, Storey said.County Council's study on alternative energy projects probably won't be finished until the end of 2007. Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain said he'd press to have his town's official plan changes approved without waiting for the county study.
Three developers have wind farm proposals in Lakeshore at various stages of environmental approval.
© The Windsor Star 2007
