Wind turbine project gets environmental OK

The project, planned by SkyPower and Scotian WindFields Inc., a Dartmouth company, has been in the works for over two years and has met mixed reaction from residents of Rossway and Gulliver’s Cove area on Digby Neck. “My thoughts right now are, how do I sell my house, “ said Debi VanTassell who lives in the area.

Her husband has epileptic seizures and she is worried that a phenomenon called ‘flickering’—reflected sunlight from wind turbine blades—could trigger a seizure.

There will be three turbines placed on each side of her house, one within 850 metres.

SkyPower and Scotian Windfields installed wind towers to monitor wind speed in her area and VanTassell said she and her husband have had 19 emus on their farm die because of the high-pitched sound the towers produce.

The business has operated for 14 years and not lost a bird until now, she said. “As far as I’m concerned, probably by the time these windmills go up we won’t have any birds here,” VanTassell said.

She has nothing against clean energy or wind turbines, but said government and other political parties would consider the people living in the area.

The Web site www.digbywindproject.com states 88 per cent of residents in the Digby Neck and town area support the wind turbine project. “Clearly, support from the community and local government has been instrumental in helping us secure our environmental approval,” said SkyPower president Kerry Adler.

SkyPower and Scotian WindFields have been approved for 25.5 megawatts of wind turbine capacity.

The wind park will cover 1,100-hectares and is designed to produce enough energy to power about 10,000 homes each year.

After the three turbines not approved are relocated, a consultation process with Department of Natural Resources wildlife division and Nova Scotia Environment will take place.

The project is thought to create about 40 or more construction jobs and three to five highly skilled operations and maintenance jobs, full time. “I think it’ll change Digby Neck and probably invite more industrialization for one thing and the turbines—we’ve heard from many places—disturb people,” said Nora Peach, another Digby Neck resident and opponent of the proposed wind park.

Her property sits at the western edge of properties, about 1,200 metres from where the wind turbines will be installed. “One of the huge problems with this project, aside from the environmental problems and the whole thing about greenhouse gases, is that the people weren’t consulted,” said Peach’s daughter, Judith Peach.

Meetings were held at Digby Neck High School, in Digby and at the Digby fire hall this summer giving people a chance to meet the wind turbine project team and find out more information.

Since initiating the Digby Neck project, SkyPower filed for protection against its creditors earlier this month to move forward with restructuring and the sale to another entity.

Scott Bronrigg with SkyPower media relations said earlier this month the move will not affect projects underway now.

The company’s major shareholder, the American financial giant Lehman Brothers, filed for bankruptcy protection last September.