A wind farm project six years in the making is going ahead in southeastern Saskatchewan.
The $60 million Red Lily Wind Energy Project, a joint effort of Algonquin Power and Gaia Power, will erect 16 turbines in the Moosomin area.
Two of the turbines will be located in the Rural Municipality of Moosomin and the other 14 will be erected in the RM of Martin. Both RMs have approved the project.
The project was delayed after a map released earlier this year showing the locations of the turbines raised concerns from residents about noise.
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According to information from the company, a public open house held in April 2008 found that 83 percent of attendees who filled out a questionnaire supported the project.
Seventy-seven percent had no concerns.
However, RM of Martin councillor Dave Garvey said noise and other health and safety concerns were raised after the location map was released. There are few regulations about how far a wind turbine must be from a residence.
Algonquin had proposed a setback of 400 metres or 40 decibels, whichever provides the most protection from noise.
Several residents started a petition looking for safety zones around the turbines and the RM responded by striking a committee, including at least one of the concerned residents, to further investigate.
Garvey said the committee agreed that the setback should be at least 550 metres from a residence.
“The closest (turbine) will be at least 583 metres from the residence,” he said.
As well, the Trans-Canada Highway and Canadian Pacific Railway line run between the residence and the turbine.
The next closest turbine will be 657 metres from a residence.
Before making a decision, the RM councils organized a bus tour of St. Leon, Man., where Algonquin operates a 99 megawatt project and 63 turbines. Several of the turbines are located in town, and the community has developed the project into a tourist attraction.
The Manitoba turbines operate constantly at 14.4 revolutions per minute, said RM of Martin reeve Mark Bateman, which results in a quieter operation.
Red Lily will provide about 25 megawatts of wind power when running at peak capacity. SaskPower signed an agreement with the company last year to buy the power and will convey it using its substation at nearby Red Jacket.
Bateman said the turbines will generate $200,000 in tax revenue for the RMs.
“It’s real money,” Bateman said. “Local landowners get money for hosting the turbines.”
They will also receive acreage payments for land in the catchment area, he added.
The project will create at least four full-time jobs after construction.
RM of Moosomin reeve Ken Mannle said no municipal money is involved in the project.
