Proactive approach pays dividends

BY BRENT FOX

The Advertiser

NovaNewsNow.com



As a lawyer and businessman, he didn’t pay much attention to electrical substations. He does now.

Pubnico Point Wind Farm Inc. president Charles Demond was the guest speaker at the 12th annual Kings County Business Awards Dinner in Greenwich Nov. 9.

The company owns and operates a 30.6-watt wind farm electrical facility at Pubnico Point. The facility is the largest wind farm in Atlantic Canada.

In his presentation, Demond said the project cost $50 million to establish. Construction took place in 2004 and 2005 and at one point the project employed about 100 people.

He noted that the whole thing began in 2001 when Nova Scotia Power Inc. put out a call for alternative energy sources. A group, including Demond, formed a company to provide such a source.

“It was a difficult thing at first,� he said. But they had all the pieces for a wind farm: land and finances.

“One of the first things you do with wind is learn everything you can about your resource,� he said. “When starting out, a wind farm is very expensive and capital intensive.�



Initial stages

The first stage included wind testing, community consultations, dealing with permits and bylaws, land control acquisition, technical analysis, customer contacts, and financing.

The bylaw and permits took a year-and-a-half to settle. The company started by informing the community what was going to take place. They held an open house and gave out as much information as they could.

By the time public hearings came along for the bylaw changes, the crowds were small because everyone already knew what they needed to make a decision.

“The proactive approach really does work effectively,� he said.



17 giant turbines

As well, the company built its own substation. Being a lawyer, Demond went through the intricate details to familiarize himself with the operation. “It’s important to look at what’s built to take real ownership of it.�

The result was 17 giant wind turbines, each almost 80 metres high with propellers and swaths of 80 metres.

The turbines also use only four to five per cent of the land upon which the facility is located, and that contributed to its being a green resource.

The efforts led eventually to a greater electrical return that anticipated. It can produce about 1.3 per cent of NSPI’s output. In operation, it puts out about 0.8 per cent.

“The fuel is free,� he said, “but you don’t know when the fuel is going to be coming down the road.�

As well, employment numbers are relatively low – three-and-a-half positions. “It‘s not like your typical factory or call centre.�

At the same time, however, it will pay up to $200,000 in municipal property taxes.

“In our view,� Demond said, “it’s a very good result for all.�