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Wind farm proposal for Garson-Falconbridge

The city of Greater Sudbury planning committee will weigh on the possibility of a wind farm being built in the city’s Garson-Falconbridge area. The planning committee’s next scheduled meeting is this Monday, Aug.
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The City of Greater Sudbury planning committee will weigh in on a proposed wind farm in the Garson-Falconbridge area. Supplied photo.

The city of Greater Sudbury planning committee will weigh on the possibility of a wind farm being built in the city’s Garson-Falconbridge area.

The planning committee’s next scheduled meeting is this Monday, Aug. 10 and on their agenda is a proposed wind energy project 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 – 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.

The closest residential area to this proposed plan would be along Goodwill Drive, adjacent to Garson.

“I think this property was purposely selected so that they were not close to residences and they did hold a public information session on July 29,” said Monet.

According to the report prepared by Monet, the planning committee can recommend this proposal to city council in one of two ways.

First would be for council to show support for the development, construction and operation of the wind farm

Secondly would be for the city’s general manager of growth and development to negotiate an agreement with Renewable Energy Systems Canada (Falconbridge Wind).

For more on this project visit: www.falconbridgewind.com


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