Ontario firm considering Woods Harbour for wind power

By Greg Bennett

The Coast Guard

NovaNewsNow.com

An Ontario-based company is interested in developing a wind power project on Goodwin’s Island, near Woods Harbour.

Schneider Power Inc. is hoping to see a small-scale wind farm (less than five turbines) developed on the island within the next few years.

Thomas Schneider, president and CEO of the energy firm, bought the island in the 1990s and believes it could be turned into a quiet and efficient site for wind power generation.

The company has two wind power projects in operation and eight in development in Germany, Canada and the U.S.

Schneider pointed out that the project is still in early planning stages. He says the company will hold public meetings, conduct feasibility and environmental assessments before any construction would begin.

“It’s a long process,” he said. “It takes time to develop a project like this.”

The CEO also noted that his company prefers to focus on smaller scale wind power projects that have little impact on the environment.

“We want to have a positive impact on the communities we work in,” he said.

The smaller scale wind power project would feed electricity directly into the Nova Scotia Power grid.

Schneider Power Inc. is a private, Canadian owned and operated company with a focus on developing renewable energy electricity generation by investing directly in clean energy projects.

Started in 1892 in Germany, by Schneider’s great-great grandfather, the company has a long history of providing electrical power.

Goodwin’s Island is within the Municipality of Barrington and is located about a kilometer offshore from Lower Woods Harbour.

The island is neighboured by Solomans Island and Fish Island.