Hot off the heels of a recent report that Canada will have a record year in wind energy installation, 2012 is already looking good thanks to two new wind projects slated next year, despite recent concerns plaguing the industry in one of Canada’s provinces.
Vestas, one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world, announced this past week it plans two new southwestern Ontario wind farms totalling 178 megawatts (MW).
Martha Wyrsch, President of Vestas Canadian Wind Energy, said on the website that this will boost Ontario’s clean energy sector while providing up to 60,000 Ontario homes with new clean energy.
The proposed two new wind farms announcement comes after recent controversies within Ontario’s wind industry. Internal documents leaked to the public said officials took in hundreds of complaints about Ontario’s 900 wind turbines, yet downgraded the concerns. Even Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) president Robert Hornung said recently he acknowledged that turbines may have some health issues. In attempts to discuss these concerns with community groups, the association has put out a publication on better collaboration between industry and other groups in going forward.
The new farms will be under the province’s feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme. The feed-in tariff allows for renewable energy projects like wind to receive firmer prices over the long-term. Locations for the projects and names, as well, will be announced at a later date, Vestas said.
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