Proposed Wind Farm Receives First Approval From Council

A proposed $60-million wind farm in the Lorneville area of Saint John has passed another major hurdle.

Council passed first and second reading of a rezoning application Monday night for the Burchill Wind Project.

Natural Forces plans to build five to 10 wind turbines and sell the power generated to Saint John Energy.

Amy Pellerin, senior development officer with the Halifax-based company, said it is great to have this hurdle out of the way.

“This rezoning process started a little while ago and we’re very excited that council voted in support of this voting application,” said Pellerin.

The company still needs final approval from city council, which is expected to take place on March 23.

It is also awaiting approval from the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government.

Pellerin said they submitted most of their environmental impact assessment to the province about a month ago.

“Just because of the industrial use of the land already with the Coleson Cove [Generating Station] and the [Spruce Lake] Industrial Park, generally we found that the land is actually well suited for wind turbines,” she said.

Pellerin said additional data on birds and bats will be sent to the environment department as part of the approval process.

Company officials will present all of the data during a second open house at the Lorneville Community Centre from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Pellerin said during their first open house in September, many people asked about the health impacts of wind turbines.

“Health Canada did an excellent study in 2014 on the health impacts, so using some of that data and using some of the studies that we’ve come to understand ourselves, we were able to address a lot of comments and a lot of questions,” said Pellerin.

The 2014 study found self-reported illnesses and chronic health conditions were not found to be associated with wind turbine noise.

Pellerin said they hope to receive provincial approval in the summer and start with pre-construction site work in the fall.

She said most of the construction would start in the spring of 2021 and they hope to have the turbines commissioned by the end of 2021.

Natural Forces developed the first wind farm in New Brunswick and currently has two additional wind energy projects under construction near Sussex and Richibucto.