Construction begins this summer
By Bill Brown
Farms.com Media
The Province has approved the North Kent Wind 1 project, with commercial operation expected to start next fall. The 12-month construction period will see some 200 workers on-site.
Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Development are joint venture partners in the 100 MW wind power plan, with a 20-year power purchase agreement from the Independent Electricity System Operator, the Crown corporation responsible for operating the electricity market and directing the operation of the bulk electrical system in Ontario.
North Kent Wind says the project will use up to 50 Ontario-made wind turbines, and generate energy equal to the annual electric needs of 35,000 Ontario homes.
An estimated $250,000 will be paid in property taxes annually over the next 20 years.
In its consultation on the decision, the province’s Environment Registry considered comments from a number of sources.
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has included a series of conditions in the Renewable Energy Approval related to groundwater and ground-borne vibration monitoring. Among these conditions is the requirement for the applicant to implement a groundwater monitoring program and to not commence any pile-driving or blasting activities until a ground-borne vibration monitoring program is developed by a qualified expert and approved by the MOECC.
The Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health’s report concluded that scientific evidence available to date does not demonstrate a direct causal link between wind turbine noise and adverse health effects.
In its decision, the Registry wrote that “scientific evidence to date indicates that at the typical setback distances in Ontario, there is no direct health risk from wind turbine noise, including low frequency noise and infrasound.”
The Municipality, through a majority-owned affiliate company, will have the option to acquire a 15 per cent equity interest in the project.