Oxford County on its way to the goal of 100% Renewal Energy

Oct 17, 2016

Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm Project Generates Power

The Oxford Community Energy Co-operative celebrated the inauguration of the Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm Project on Saturday, October 15^th.

Gunn's Hill Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Champagne Toast

While seeing 10 wind turbines with the rotors turning amongst the rolling hills on Ontario may no longer be unique in Ontario, the Gunn’s Hill wind farm is different because the Gunn’s Hill Windfarm is the first “Community” wind project in Canada. Oxford County is unique in that it has set a goal of sourcing 100% of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2050.

The project began in early 2014 as a Limited Partnership with the Six Nations in Grand River and Prowind. Less than 3 years later, the wind turbines are operational, and will be feeding power into the grid as of November.

“Behind us is our first turbine rotating and I feel good,” said Helmut, outgoing CEO, during the opening ceremonies. “There where many roadblocks to overcome, but we kept our promise: with every rotation of the blades you are reducing the burden on our environment and at the same time creating a profit from your investment.”

According to some expert calculations, approximately 400 households are supplied by each turbine, with each household having an average of 4 people. Since Oxford County has a population of 110,000, the 10 wind turbines at Gunn’s Hill represent between 10-15% of achieving Oxford county’s goal of 100% renewable energy?

Gunn's Hill Wind Turbines

For more information about the Oxford County Energy Co-operative: http://www.oxford-cec.ca/

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.