Barry’s Bay This Week reports Renewable Energy Systems hosted a meeting for Whitney area residents about a proposal to build 48 wind turbines near Algonquin Provincal Park. One turbine weighs 253 tons and residents are concerned of the visual pollution and environmental impact the project would have.
The Sun Times reports a petition is being routed to stop further construction on wind farms in the province of Ontario, Canada until a full assessment can be made on the affect it will have. This local group has joined with Wind Concerns Ontario, consisting of 24 rural groups across the province. One resident found homes near wind turbines were getting too much electric voltage in their homes and it was causing symptoms of electrical hypersensitivity.
Canadian Business reports AAER Wind Energy is on the verge of selling 61 turbines for a 100MW wind farm in Quebec equivalent to $142 million in sales. Northland Power has until the end of the year to secure financing for the project, which could be difficult given the present condition of the economy. AAER also hopes to gain more sales in the U.S. wind market.
The London Free Press reports the Kingsbridge II wind farm has been cancelled. Had it been built, 69 turbines would have been erected to power as many as 50,000 homes and farmers would have had the potential to earn $10,000 per turbine on their land. Epcor stands to lose $20 million for the plans that had been on the shelf for the last two years.
Otago Daily reports Grahame Sydney, an artist, and founder of Save Central is opposed to commercial scale wind farms. For Save Central’s national campaign, Sydney defaced his famous work of art to depict his opposition. More than 300 orders have been placed for a print of his defaced work at $35/each, unsigned.
Nova Scotia Business Journal reports a wind farm for Digby Neck is still in progress regardless of its association with the Lehmann Brothers, who recently claimed bankruptcy. SkyPower, the player in question, is a 50% partner in the project. The other partner, Scotian WindFields, is doing business as usual.
The Chronicle Herald Business reports The Norway wind farm in Ottawa, Canada is the first to qualify for federal government funding from the renewable power program. The 3 turbines provide 9MW of wind power to the province’s grid and will receive $2.8 million to upgrade and operate the facility. The Renewable Power Program provides $1.48 billion to increase Canada’s renewable energy sources.
Eco Log reports the Canadian Wind Energy Association will host their annual Conference and Tradeshow in October 2008. The show will feature more than 200 exhibitors and plans for the role wind energy will play in Canada will be unveiled.
Eco Worldly reports a Canadian Tribe and Sky Power have entered an agreement to construct the Willow Cree Wind Project as early as 2010. The project will produce 100MW of wind power to provide electricity to 30,000 homes a year. The First Nation has also entered an $800 million oil deal and are looking to explore oil options in Saskatchewan via treaty entitlements.
Cleantech reports a deal worth $7.8 billion could turn TransAlta into a privately owned company. TransAlta is currently Canada’s largest independent power producer of wind, geothermal and hydro power. LS Power Equity is pushing for the deal and plans to offer $6 billion in equity and a $2billion debt facility.