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Wind farm proposed for Sudbury

The City of Greater Sudbury’s planning committee is weighing the possibility of a wind farm being built in the municipality’s northeast corner.
Wind-turbines_Cropped
Municipality could receive up to $350,000 a year for project.

The City of Greater Sudbury’s planning committee is weighing the possibility of a wind farm being built in the municipality’s northeast corner.

The proposed wind energy project for the Garson-Falconbridge area is being brought forward by Falconbridge Wind LP.

Falconbridge Wind is a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Canada and they are proposing a project with a 100 to 150 megawatt generating capacity that would include 30 – 50 turbines. 

Other major components in the project would include a transformer substation, low-voltage electrical collector lines, access roads, a transmission line between the project site and the existing Ontario electrical grid, along with construction laydown and work areas.

The proposed site would be east of Garson, northeast of Falconbridge, north of Hwy 17 and west of the Wahnapitae River.

“It’s quite a large parcel of land,” said Stephen Monet, manager of environmental planning initiatives, City of Greater Sudbury. 

“They each may have different zoning but this proposal isn’t looking at re-zoning and it’s not a planning act application so it’s not looking for an official plan amendment or zoning by-law amendment, all they’re coming before council ultimately for is for council to either lend support to the project or not.”

With council’s support the proponent (Falconbridge Wind) would receive points to bid on the competitive process with the province.

Prospective projects such as this are ranked by the province on a set of criteria and points are awarded when a municipality lends its support.

The municipality could also take advantage of some financial benefits with this project through a community benefit contribution that would see the proponent contribute approximately $2,500 per megawatt of power and up to $350,000 a year for a 150-megawatt project.