Lakeshore Looks to the Future with Renewable Energy Wind Energy Farm Projects are Renewable Energy Systems. They are large scale generating systems comprised of one or more generating units (wind turbines) that provide electricity into the provincial transmission grid in keeping with Provincial policies and regulations regarding renewable energy technologies. Since 2004 Ontario has seen a dramatic increase in the number of wind energy projects wind farms being developed in the Province. Ontario has a suitable wind resource for the development of wind projects and the strongest winds are found along the shores of the Great Lakes. These projects are being built in response to government programs and initiatives aimed at attracting new investment and increasing the amount of energy we generate from clean, sustainable resources. Wind developers in Ontario require long term power purchase agreements at a price that provides enough financial incentive for the development of wind turbine projects. A power purchase agreement is a contract between a developer and the Ontario Power Authority, wherein the developer agrees to supply the Province with wind energy at a pre established price for a certain period of time (typically 20 years). There are two ways for wind developers to obtain a contract, either through a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Standard Offer Program (SOP). In November of 2004 the Ontario government announced long term contracts to develop new wind power. In April of 2005 the government issued Request for Proposals (RFP) for renewable power projects, upon which selection, is the result of a successful bid. Subsequently, the Ministry of Energy implemented the Standard Offer Program (SOP) for small community based projects. Developers of wind farms must seek municipal planning approval before the wind energy project can reach commercial operation. Planning contributes to the provision of renewable energy by facilitating wind energy developments in appropriate locations in a manner that appropriately balances their environmental, social and economic benefits (municipal taxes, royalties for landowners and jobs) with any demonstrated visual, environmental and amenity impacts in favour of an overall net community benefit. The following are various wind farm projects that have received Council approval: 1) Gracey Wind Farm Project (Standard Offer Program) The developer, Gengrowth LP1 (developer) proposes to construct 5 wind turbines on 4 sites, comprised of five parcels of land, to fulfil a contract with the Ontario Power Authority under the Standard Offer Program to generate 10 megawatts of electricity per year over a 20 year period. The proposed sites are farmed lots bordered by Gracey Sideroad to the west, 3 rd Concession Road to the north, Richardson Sideroad to the east and County Road 42 to the south in the former Township of Tilbury North. The turbine proposed is the Enercon E 82 model which has variable pitch blades with
a rotational diameter of 82 metres. The turbines are 119 metres in height measured from ground level to the tip of the blade in its upright vertical position. Each turbine will generate 600V of power which is then converted to 27.6 kv by step up transformers. The turbines are networked via underground cabling with a connection point directly to a Hydro One utility pole located on Gracey Sideroad, just north of 3 rd Concession Road. 2) Richardson Wind Farm Project (Standard Offer Program) The applicant, Gengrowth LP1 proposes to construct 5 wind turbines on 4 parcels of land to fulfil a contract with the Ontario Power Authority under the Standard Offer Program to generate 10 megawatts of electricity per year over a 20 year period. The proposed sites are farmed lots on the east side of Richardson Sideroad and south of the Hydro One transmission corridor extending past County Road 46 and 7 th Concession Road in Tilbury North. The turbine proposed is the Enercon E 82 model which has variable pitch blades with a rotational diameter of 82 metres. The turbines are 119 metres in height measured from ground level to the tip of the blade in its upright vertical position. Each turbine will generate 600V of power which is then converted to 27.6 kv by step up transformers. The turbines are networked via underground cabling with a connection point directly to a Hydro One utility pole located on County Road 46. 2
3) Pointe Aux Roches Wind Farm Project (Request for Proposal) The developer, AIM PowerGen proposes to construct 26 wind turbines on 20 parcels of land under the Request for Proposals competition of the Ontario Power Authority on the proposed sites located in the Key Map. This project will generate up to 46.8 megawatts of electrical power per year. The turbine proposed is the Vestas V90 model which has variable pitch blades with a rotational diameter of 90 metres. The turbines are 125 metres in height measured from ground level to the tip of the blade in its upright vertical position. 4) Gosfield Comber Wind Farm Project (Request for Proposal) The developer, Brookfield Renewable Power, proposes to construct 96 wind turbines on 99 parcels of land under the Request for Proposals competition of the Ontario Power Authority on the sites located in the Key Map. Note, as part of this project, 40 turbines are proposed in the Town of Kingsville, north and east of Cottam. This project will generate up to 172.8 megawatts of electrical power per year. The turbine proposed is the Vestas V90 model which has variable pitch blades with a rotational diameter of 90 metres. The turbines are 125 metres in height measured from ground level to the tip of the blade in its upright vertical position. 3
Transformers at the base of each turbine will step up the electricity generated from 690 V to the standard operating line voltage of 34.5 kv found in the collector network. The collector network will consist of underground cabling from the turbines to utility poles in the road right of way. The electricity is then carried to a substation where it is stepped up again and taken via transmission lines to the Hydro One transmission network. The location of the substation has yet to be confirmed and will subject of a separate rezoning. 4
On January 23, 2009, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) awarded long term contracts for six green energy projects under the Renewable Energy Supply III program. At this time, neither the Point aux Roches wind farm project nor the Gosfield Comber wind farm project within the Town of Lakeshore were successful in this Request for Proposal competition. 5