Officials with Otter Creek have made a few changes to their plans for a wind farm north of Wallaceburg.
Originally expected to include as many as 20 turbines, spokesman Adam Russo says that number has now been trimmed to 12.
“We believe that having larger, taller turbines with a higher nameplate (generating) capacity in fewer numbers was better than having more turbines in a less efficient design with a lower nameplate capacity.”
The Otter Creek turbines will actually be the largest in Chatham-Kent, almost 50 metres taller than those in the North Kent project.
Officials also say they are looking into new ways to build foundations other than the piling operations used at other sites, which have been accused of causing increased sediment in some Dover area wells.
Russo says the development will be more efficient than other wind farms, saving residents money in the long term.
“If you look at the time of day billing in the province of Ontario, and the way the ISO and the Ontario Energy Board has regulated that,” Russo says. “This project will contribute to the overall downward trend of electricity prices in the province.”
Construction is slated to start in 2018, pending environmental approval from the province.
In the meantime, the company is looking for feedback from the public – a community engagement office is open on Nelson Street in Wallaceburg Tuesdays from 10am-3pm.
