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Proponents and opponents of the proposed Armow Wind Farm were holding open houses at the Best Western Plus Governor's Inn last night (Dec. 13), offering information about the project to the public.

Brian Edwards of Samsung Renewable Energy Inc., and Jody Law of Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC, are co-developers of the project.They were at the open house, along with numerous specialists, to explain the project and answer questions.

Meanwhile, in the Highland Room, the Central Bruce-Grey Wind Concerns group was stating objections to the project, focussing on concerns that the locations of proposed wind turbines could threaten the Kincardine Airport.

Joining this group was John McAuley of Huron-Kinloss Township, regional representative of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA). Earlier that day, the national president and chief executive officer of COPA, Kevin Psutka of Ottawa, was at a meeting with the Southern Ontario chapter, concerned that the Kincardine Airport could be shut down if a turbine were built in the southwest corner of the Armow Wind Farm site.

McAuley said the open house put on by SP Armow Wind Ontario LP, the joint venture between Pattern and Samsung, was a good show and there were lots of people there, but nobody could show him a map that clarified what was happening to the airport.

"We are concerned about the proximity of turbines to the airport," he said. "We don't like the look of the turbines and they're not economical. Our national president is very concerned about them being located near the airport."

The wind farm is slated to be built between the Northline and Bruce County Road 20, and between Highway 21 and Bruce County Road 1, in the Municipality of Kincardine.

Pattern and Samsung took over the project from Acciona Renewable Energy Canada in August, and plan to put up 90 turbines, for a total of 180 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Unlike Acciona, this company already has a contract with the government to produce power.

At the open house, Edwards said Pattern and Samsung plan to install different turbines, the Siemens SWT 2.3-101, which are quieter than those proposed by Acciona.

The project is currently in the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) process. Once approved, it would begin construction in early 2013, be completed at the end of 2014, and provide enough electricity to power 55,000 homes.

Law said he was not surprised with the chilly reception from Kincardine council and anti-wind protesters at the meeting last Wednesday night (Dec. 7).

"We really need to get council onboard," he said. "We're going to be here; this project will proceed, and we want to work with all the stakeholders including the municipality."

The municipality has no real authority with respect to this project, which is governed by the provincial government's Green Energy Act. However, Law said Pattern and Samsung want to be part of the Kincardine community so it's important to work with the municipality and its proposed guidelines for wind developments.

The purpose of the open house, said Law, was to get the information out to everyone, and get feedback from landowners and the community.

"People have had time to look at our proposal and now they have a chance to ask questions," he said. "They can meet us and get their answers from us."

When asked about the increased size of the project - to 90 from 54 turbines as was proposed by Acciona - Law said Pattern and Samsung looked at the available land, and at the requests from landowners who wanted to be part of the project, and agreed to make it bigger.

Through the fall, the company did a lot of field work, said Law. Now, it is having reports drawn up, and plans more talks with Kincardine council to address some of the issues brought up by the anti-wind contingent. There will also be more open houses for further discussion with the public.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011