Prowind’s 18MW Gunn’s Hill wind project in southwest Ontario has been given the green light to start construction after an appeal to stop the project failed.
The East Oxford Alliance appealed against a renewable energy approval granted by provincial regulators in April and in June asked the Environmental Review Tribunal to revoke the permit or order relocation of one or more turbines.
The group claims the wind farm will harm human health and plants, animals and the natural environment but planners voted to unconditionally dismiss the appeal and ruled work can begin onsite.
Prowind said the decision is “clear and in line with the result it anticipated” and will now stride on with plans to erect 10 Senvion MM92 turbines at the feed-in tariff scheme. Gunn’s Hill will connect to the local distribution lines.
Gunns Hill project president Juan Anderson said: “We welcome this unconditional dismissal of the appeal of our approval. The project is proceeding with construction and will deliver benefits to over 140 co-op investors and to all Ontarians by providing clean energy equivalent to what is used by over 6000 homes, and by offering $500,000 to local community initiatives over the life of the project.
“We look forward to being a part of this community during project construction and operation, making a significant contribution to the county’s goal of being 100% renewable.”
Access road construction is underway at the site and turbine construction will commence in May 2016. The project is expected to start generating clean renewable energy in August 2016.
Image: Senvion turbines at EDF’s Rivière du Moulin project in Canada (Senvion)
