SD&G – The province’s Independent Electricity System Operator has approved two green energy projects in Stormont County.
The biggest as far as land mass is the 100 megawatt Nation Rise Wind Farm, which will be constructed by EDP Renewables on 12,000 acres in North Stormont.
The wind turbines, which could be 28 to 50 depending on the technology, would be generally west of Crysler, Berwick and Finch.
EDP Renewables Project Manager Ken Little and Project Developer Ryan O’Connor did not return phone calls requesting comment on the status of their projects, choosing to release a statement.
Madrid, Spain – EDP Renováveis, SA (“EDPR”), through its fully owned subsidiary EDP Renewables Canada Ltd., was awarded a 20-year supply contract in Ontario, Canada, as part of the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Large Renewable Procurement I (LRP I) process, to sell the renewable energy produced from its 100 MW Nation Rise Wind Farm.
The Nation Rise Wind Farm project is located in the Township of North Stormont, Ontario, and is expected to start operations in 2019. This new project will be integrated in EDPR’s 2016-2020 Business Plan, to be presented in May at EDP Group Investor Day. The successful outcome from this process reinforces EDPR’s strategy to increase its footprint in a market with attractive wind fundamentals and low risk profile through the establishment of long term contracts, providing solid cash-flow visibility.
In South Stormont, the 10 megawatt Barlow Solar Energy Center will be built by EDF-EN Canada on Cornwall Centre Road, bordering the City of Cornwall.
An offer has been made from the IESO to both companies. They still have a formally sign a contract.
“Obviously, we’re very pleased to have been selected,” said David Thornton, manager of stakeholder relations for EDF-EN Canada. “It does take a lot of work but that work is done in partnership with the municipality and the community and our stakeholders. They’re confidence and their support in our abilities is the reason why we were successful,” he told CNW.
“We look forward to our work and bringing some direct and indirect benefits to the municipality,” Thornton said.
A Community Benefit Agreement will see South Stormont receive $480,000 over 20 years.
The project is expected to create roughly 100 jobs at the peak of construction and one long-term position. Thornton indicated they will be concentrating on “local procurement” during construction.
The 112 acre solar farm, east of the railway tracks and north of the Cornwall landfill, is scheduled to be operating sometime in 2019.
South Branch II Wind Farm not approved
Noticeably absent from the 16 approved contracts in Ontario was the second phase of the South Branch Wind Farm – a 50-100 megawatt, 40 wind turbine project, roughly four times the size of the existing South Branch Wind Farm.
The IESO approved five wind, seven dollar and four hydroelectric projects in Ontario.
‘I won’t let this slide’: McDonell
Local MPP Jim McDonell chastised the Liberal government for the North Stormont project.
During Question Period at Queen’s Park today, McDonell said the province “clearly didn’t” listen to municipalities when making its decision.
“The people of North Stormont and the Township of North Stormont said a clear no to wind farms in their township, rejecting the $9 million incentive offered by the developer in exchange for municipal support. This approval makes a mockery of due process and consultation.”
“I won’t let this slide,” McDonell retorted. He has filed a Notice of Dissatisfaction, which requires the minister to answer in detail to McDonell by March 22, 2016.