Welcome. to the Community Meeting for the Niagara Region Wind Project. Thank you for coming!

Transcription

1 Welcome to the Community Meeting for the Niagara Region Wind Project Thank you for coming! In early September we will host the first Public Open House under We are happy to share information about this clean, renewable energy the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) process. project with you, and introduce Niagara Region Wind Corporation. Today s Community Meeting is not a formal part of the REA process, The purpose of today s Community Meeting is to engage members of and is an additional opportunity to talk with our neighbours. the public early in the project, to exchange information, and to provide an opportunity to incorporate the public s priorities or concerns Please review the display boards and feel free to ask us any questions you may have. during our studies. We want to hear from you! If you would like to be added to the Project mailing list, please sign up at the front desk.

2 Who Are We? Niagara Region Wind Corporation (NRWC) is a Canadian renewable energy company focused on the development of wind power in Canada. NRWC is a partnership between Daniels Power Corporation and Renewable Energy Business Ltd., two privately held Ontario companies committed to renewable energy projects. The Study Team for the Project includes: Stantec Consulting Ltd. Hatch Consulting Ltd. Intrinsik Inc. Bridgepoint Group Ltd. (Renewable Energy (Engineering) (Health) (Media & Communications) Approval process) Project Contact Information Website: info@nrwc.ca Phone: or (toll free)

3 Niagara Region Wind Project Project Overview Class 4 This project is considered a Class 4 Wind Facility according to the REA Regulation. 230 MW The total nameplate capacity of this project will be 230 MW (1 MW can power approximately 250 Ontario homes) turbines There will be approximately 80 to 100 turbines, and depending on the turbine model selected. Turbine will likely be between 2.3 and 3 MW. The Preliminary Study Area is within Haldimand County and Niagara Region (including the Township of Pelham, Township of Wainfleet, and Township of West Lincoln). The Preliminary Transmission Line Interconnection Study Area is within the Town of Grimsby, Town of Lincoln and the Township of West Lincoln, in Niagara Region.

4 50 ROAD RIDGE ROAD WEST QEW HIGHWAY TOWN OF GRIMSBY KING STREET HIGHWAY 406 Niagara Region Wind Project REGIONAL ROAD 20 MUD STREET GRIMSBY ROAD THIRTY ROAD FLY ROAD TOWN OF LINCOLN JORDAN ROAD EIGHTH AVENUE FOURTH AVENUE Preliminary SILVER STREET SMITHVILLE ROAD TOWNSHIP OF WEST LINCOLN CAISTOR GAINSBOROUGH ROAD TWENTY MILE ROAD VICTORIA AVENUE HIGHWAY 406 Study Area SILVER STREET REGIONAL ROAD 20 TOWN OF PELHAM REGIONAL ROAD 27 CANBOROUGH ROAD CREEK ROAD WEBBER ROAD HIGHWAY 3 ROBINSON ROAD MARSHAGAN ROAD HIGHWAY 3 RIVERSIDE DRIVE VICTORIA AVENUE FORKS ROAD TOWNSHIP OF WAINFLEET HUTCHINSON ROAD HALDIMAND COUNTY RAINHAM ROAD HIGHWAY 3 PORT MAITLAND ROAD RYMER ROAD NORTH SHORE DRIVE LAKESHORE ROAD Guelph Mississauga 0 2,000 4,000 m Cambridge Burlington Legend Preliminary Study Area Preliminary Interconnector Study Area Brantford Hamilton Haldimand County St. Catharines Thorold Welland Norfolk County 20 Kilometers

5 Renewable Energy Approval Process An Overview Issued under Ontario Regulation 359/09 under the Environmental Protection Act (REA Regulation). Stringent environmental approval process that NRWC needs to satisfy before construction. Specifies how the Project will be designed, built, operated and decommissioned so that local community and environment are protected. For this project, the REA process began in July 2011, with the publication of a Notice of Proposal to Engage in a Renewable Energy Project.* Meeting with Key Agencies MOE, MNR, MTC other provincial, federal, municipal approving bodies Refinement Scoping the Project Concept Conduct Site Assessments & Other Studies Completing REA Reports Application Submission & Review Appeals Process (if applicable) Project Class Project location Ancillary Equipment Activities for construction/ operation Natural Heritage Assessment Cultural Heritage/ Archaeological Assessment Water Assessment Others as required Obtain Confirmation/ Comment Letters from MNR & MTC Project Description Report Construction Plan Report Design and Operations Report Decommissioning Plan Report Consultation Plan Report Additional reports as required Completeness Check Enviromental Registry Posting Focussed Review 6 Month Service Guarantee REA Decision Draft Reports Required Consultation Municipal/Public Consultation Aboriginal Consultation

6 Environmental Studies and Features Environmental studies will be completed as part of the REA process and results will be considered during Project layout development. Technical studies include in-depth analysis of the following: Wildlife & wildlife habitat; Bird breeding, wintering, and migration areas; Waterbodies and aquatic resources; Woodlands, vegetation, wetlands and other significant natural features; Archaeological and cultural heritage features; and Environmental noise. All technical studies will be provided within REA reports in draft form for public review & comment a minimum of 60 days before Final Public Open House.

7 Environmental Noise Impact Assessment An Environmental Noise Impact Assessment will be completed to ensure compliance with MOE regulatory requirements (included in the Design and Operations Report). Current requirements are intended to limit sound level outside the nearest residence to 40 dba (comparable to typical indoor sound level in sleeping quarters and below the level to affect sleep and health). Ontario uses the most conservative sound modeling available nationally & internationally. Whisper Office Stereo Music Pneumatic Drill db Falling Leaves Bedroom Home Inside Car Farm Jet Airplane Equipment

8 Typical Wind Height and size of turbines may vary. Turbine Rotor Blades Wind Sensors Rotor Diameter ~100m Nacelle Electric Generator Tower Height m Base Diameter ~4-5m Minimum from Ground ~46m Tower Typical Foundation

9 Addressing Community Priorities NRWC has been listening to the dialogue about wind in the community. To that end, we are going beyond what is required in the following ways: We are holding more public meetings than required by the REA process. We will be participating in local community events to meet our neighbours and to make ourselves accessible. We have hired a local St. Catharines real estate firm to conduct a property value study in Haldimand County. We have contracted independent environmental health consultants to assist with wind turbine siting. We want to hear from you! If you would like to be added to the Project mailing list, please sign up at the front desk.

10 Community Benefits NRWC plans to be an active and good neighbour. We will be establishing a Community Benefits Fund, where a portion of the Project s revenue will be reinvested in the local community, with the input of local municipalities. The Project is also a source of new revenue in the community: It will provide approximately $10 million in new local property tax revenue over 20 years. It will provide approximately $80 million in revenue to local landowners.

11 Economic Benefits The Niagara Region Wind Project will provide significant economic benefits for the local community. A study conducted by AECOM Canada Inc. to explore employment and income impacts shows that the Project has the ability to significantly impact unemployment rates in the region and across Ontario. The Niagara Region Wind Project will create approximately 770 jobs annually during the four-year development and construction period and 120 long-term jobs during the subsequent 20-year operational period. The project will generate $230 million in direct Ontariobased capital expenditures.

12 Timeline Feed-In-Tariff contract awarded February, 2011 Initiate Renewable Energy Approval Process July, 2011 Public Open House #1 Fall, 2011 REA Technical Studies Summer, 2011 to Summer, 2012 Public Open House #2 Winter/Spring, 2013 REA application submitted to the MOE Spring, 2013 REA issued by MOE (anticipated) Fall, 2013 Start of Construction Fall, 2013 Repowering/ Decommissioning (Approximately 25 years after COD) Commercial Operation Date (COD) Spring, 2014 TODAY Community Meeting July 26, 2011

13 Renewable Energy Approval Process Required Reports 1 Project Description Report 2 Design & Operations Report 3 Construction Plan Report 4 Decommissioning Plan Report 5 Consultation Report 6 Natural Heritage Assessment (and Environmental Impact Study, if required) 7 Water Assessment Report (and Water Body Report, if required) 8 Protected Properties and Heritage Assessment 9 Archaeological Assessment 10 Wind Turbine Specifications Report Draft reports will be available for review & comment a minimum of 60 days before the Final Public Open House.

14 Other Approval and Permitting Requirements Additional approval and permitting requirements may be required for the project from the following agencies: Ministry of Natural Resources; Niagara Escarpment Commission; Grand River and Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authorities; Haldimand County & Niagara Region (Township of Wainfleet, Township of West Lincoln, Township of Pelham, Town of Grimsby and Town of Lincoln). Ministry of Transportation Transport Canada Ontario Energy Board Fisheries and Oceans Canada Nav Canada

15 We Want to Hear From You! Copies of the display boards from this Community Meeting are available on the website. ( Opportunities for Feedback: Sign up at the front entrance to be added to the project notification list. Pick up and fill out a paper questionnaire today. Call us to share your thoughts toll-free at your thoughts to info@nrwc.ca. Visit us at the first Public Open House for the Renewable Energy Approval process in September Visit us at the final Public Open House for the Renewable Energy Approval process in 2013.