North Kent Wind Project endorsed by council

A new two-phase wind farm project has been endorsed by council for outside of Wallaceburg, Dresden and Chatham.

The North Kent Wind Project by Samsung and Pattern Energy will lead to a upwards of 90 new wind turbines being constructed in the former Dover and Chatham Townships.

John Norton, the chief legal officer for Chatham-Kent and Tomo Matesic, president of Entegrus Transmissions Inc., presented to council on Monday about the proposed project, which was being recommended by staff.

North Kent Coun. Joe Faas entered a successful motion for Chatham-Kent to move forward with both projects, which was recommended by staff.

Norton said Samsung and Pattern have offered up a number of community benefits to go along with the project.

“This is the best package Chatham-Kent has ever been offered by a renewable energy project,” Norton said.

One of the offers approved by council was to give the Municipality the option to purchase a “15% equity interest” in the North Kent Wind Project, as an additional community benefit.

This will be done through Entegrus Inc.

Norton said another positive was a $4 million community contribution by Samsung and Pattern, once certain project milestones were achieved.

Other benefits, include:

– A road use agreement for both project, which will see Chatham-Kent receive $150,000 per project

– Approximately $1 million in building permit revenue

– Maintenance contracts for Entegrus, approximately $600,000 per year

– Community outreach including public meetings, landowner’s dinners, and aboriginal consultation

– Safe lighting on all turbines as required by Transport Canada

Matesic said phase one of the project will be approximately 100 megawatts and consist of approximately 40 to 50 turbines.

A staff report says the turbines would be constructed on private land, and the design, specifications and layout are still under development.

The project will be subject to the Renewable Energy Approval process, a permitting process which evaluates projects for environmental, social and archaeological impacts, a staff report says.

The second phase is dependent upon an award by the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO.)

If it proceeds, it will also be of a size between 50 to 100 megawatts and between 20 and 40 turbines.

The potential property tax revenue from the project would be approximately $250,000 per year.

Five people from the local agricultural community also provided deputations before Norton and Matesic’s presentation, all in support of the projects as well.

“There is a list of benefits for Chatham-Kent,” said Doug Smith, a farmer in Dover.

“Our community needs this project,” said Scott Ewing, a Wallaceburg insurance salesman and a fourth generation farmer in Dover. “Congratulations on the zero per cent budget. Could you have done that without the green energy money already being received?”

Matesic said council’s approval was not necessarily needed, as the project could still go forward within Chatham-Kent through the province’s approval process.

“Saying no would not prevent either of these two projects from being built,” he said.

Mayor Randy Hope the province of Ontario should take notice of Chatham-Kent as leaders in the green energy sector, and reward the residents as a result.

“Your electricity cost should be less,” Hope said.

Hope added Chatham-Kent needs to continue moving forward and explore energy storage opportunities and research and development opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

Hope called the negotiated proposal between Chatham-Kent, Entegrus, Pattern and Samsung as a “legacy piece” and a “benchmark” for future renewable energy proposals.

In relations to the five deputations all in favour of the project, Hope added: “I’m glad to say we don’t have demonstrators out front of city hall.”