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Leader Wind Services issues layoff notices for six workers By Liz Dadson |
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Leader Wind Services Corp. in Kincardine has been forced to issue layoff notices for six of its 25 employees. And president Charles Edey is out of the office but just on vacation; he is not looking for another job. That's the word from Heather Boa, communications manager for the wind development company. Boa said the announcement July 4 by Ontario energy minister Brad Duguid and Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell included 25 projects that had received Feed-In Tariff (FIT) contracts from the provincial government. However, two local projects designed and planned by Leader Wind were not awarded contracts, said Boa. These included the Arran Wind Energy 115-megawatt (MW) project in Arran-Elderslie and Saugeen Shores; and the 22 Degrees Wind Energy 150-MW project in Central Huron. "We were completely shocked," said Boa. "We were ranked eighth or ninth in the Bruce area, and 750 MW in projects were to be awarded here." The problem, she said, is the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) changed the rules June 3, allowing projects from the West London area to connect in the Bruce area. Before that ruling, projects from the Huron County border north connected in the Bruce area, while projects from the Huron County border south to West London had to connect down there. "Now, they've allowed projects to cross borders to connect," said Boa. "So, 400 MW of contracts from the West London area have been allowed to connect in our area. "We were essentially shut out of the contracts. In all of Bruce County, only nine MW in contracts were awarded, the equivalent of four turbines. Most of the projects were awarded in Huron County and south." She said Leader Resources is now evaluating the process to find out what happened to put the company in a position to be shut out of the contracts. "We're asking the energy minister and the premier's office," she said, "and we're encouraging our landowners to speak to Carol Mitchell's office. "Our projects were nearly ready to present reports to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for approval. We would have had shovels in the ground and completed the projects within the year. We should have received some of those contracts."
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Meanwhile, Boa said work has slowed for Leader
Resources, which meant it was forced to issue layoff notices to six
employees. "We do more than wind energy here," she said. "We have a small gas plant in the Port Burwell area." Plus, the company operates the OPA's program to reclaim old refrigerators and freezers. "We've been out and spoken to our landowners (about the wind projects)," said Boa. "My job has been re-aligned, and we hope to get more contracts soon so we can hire back those who are on layoff." She said the Lake Huron shoreline has the best wind conditions and nearby transmission facilities. "Our landowners want to see their projects go ahead." Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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