Wind farm planner counts on informing public

By Carl Clutchey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Source: The Chronicle-Journal

The proponent behind a future 200-megawatt wind farm to be located in a remote area about 30 kilometres north of Thunder Bay is planning at least two public information sessions for the project.

“We have not yet set dates for the open houses, but we anticipate holding two events during (the upcoming) permitting period,” a spokesperson for the Northern Breeze Energy project said this week.

Fort William First Nation and Red Rock Indian Band “collectively” have a 50-per-cent stake in the wind farm, which is estimated to cost between $650 million to $700 million.

Construction is slated to begin in 2028, with a projected in-service date set for 2030, according to a project backgrounder.

“As project investors, the First Nations are assuming risk alongside (the proponent) and will receive corresponding revenue payments from project operations,” the company spokesperson said.

Northern Breeze comes under the umbrella of renewable-power giant EDF Power Solutions, whose North American operations are headquartered in San Diego, Calif.

The study area for the Northern Breeze Energy project is roughly shaped like an inverted triangle, west of Highway 527. At the study area’s north end is Crock Lake.

The project was part of last week’s announcement by Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), which procured 1,300 megawatts of new power sources across 14 projects, each with 20-year contracts.

Of the total, five were solar and wind projects to be located in Northwestern Ontario and slated to add just over 508 megawatts of new power.