Canadian developer Horizon Wind is appealing Ontario’s rejection of the 32MW Big Thunder wind project.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change last month said the proponent failed to adequately address potential impacts on moose habitat and traditional moose hunting by members of the Fort William First Nation reserve. Officials refused to issue a ‘renewable energy approval.’
The developer said the ministry’s request for additional information and denial of the REA was “unreasonable” and has appealed to the Environmental Review Tribunal. Hearing dates have yet to be scheduled.
Horizon and the City of Thunder Bay signed an option to lease the project lands in 2007. The Ontario Power Authority granted a feed-in tariff contract for 16.5MW in 2010 however the agency cancelled the deal in 2014 because the project failed to obtain a REA by the specified deadline.
The ministry deemed the REA application complete in April 2013 but then took two-and-a-half years to make a decision despite a six-month service standard.
The developer planned to install 16 Enercon E82 2MW turbines on the ridge-top site in Thunder Bay.
Image: the project would install Enercon E82 units (Kuehni)
