An Ontario tribunal has rejected an appeal of the 10MW Port Ryerse wind farm, allowing developer Boralex to move ahead with the project.
A local resident complained the project would impact two at-risk species, barn owls and bald eagles. However the Environmental Review Tribunal this week ruled there is no evidence the four-turbine scheme will harm animals or the environment.
The panel upheld the ‘renewable energy approval’ granted in 2014.
Siting of the rare barn owl in the project area resulted in a several-month delay of the appeal process, while Boralex conducted additional environmental assessment work.
In the end, the Ministry of Natural Resources decided the project would not require an endangered species permit, allowing the appeal to resume this fall.
Quebec-based Boralex proposes to install four Siemens SWT 3MW 113 turbines, to be operated at 2.5MW. The Port Ryerse feed-in tariff project is located on privately owned land in Norfolk County, in southwest Ontario.
Image: Boralex
