HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-10-23, Page 3232 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, October 23, 2013
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mind Farm
Gord Potts
Director Business Development
and Project Manager
Grand Bend Wind Farm for
Northland Power Inc.
Over the next
three years,
Canada will see
up to 4,500
MW of wind
energy projects
commissioned.
•
'fluty
News
http://grandbend.northlandpower.ca
Annual Wind Energy Conference Drives Discussion
on Responsible Wind Development by Gord Potts
Every year, representatives of Canada's wind industry get together
to discuss responsible wind energy development, best practices
and lessons learned; attendees include citizens, employees,
industry leaders and small-business innovators, policy makers and
those whose goal it is to promote renewable energy at home and
abroad. This year's conference took place in Toronto from October
7-10. The event was organized by the Canadian Wind Energy Asso-
ciation (CanWEA); a national non-profit association which serves
as Canada's leading source of credible information about wind
energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits.
The conference agenda demonstrated CanWEA members' efforts
to create a responsible and sustainable wind energy industry in
Canada. A variety of debates, plenary sessions and round -table
discussions focused on topics such as industry collaboration
with First Nations; opportunities and challenges with financing
wind energy projects; the science behind protecting wildlife;
integrating wind energy on Ontario's electricity grid; operation
and maintenance of wind farms; and community engagement.
CanWEA president Robert Hornung acknowledged that the
rapid advancement of the wind energy industry in Ontario
has been difficult for some communities, and affirmed the
industry's commitment to working with host communities to
address their concerns, stating, "Wind energy has become the
focus of public and political discussion...And we should wel-
come that discussion, even if it is painful... we have nothing
to hide." He also reiterated that wind energy developers must
be diligent in communicating with and engaging host com-
munities, noting, "We cannot assume community support -
we have to earn it".'
Siemens, the turbine supplier for the Grand Bend Wind Farm,
sponsored the opening plenary in which The Wind Energy
Experience in Ontario was discussed. "Ontario is the largest
wind energy market in Canada with more than 2,000 MW
Intelligent energy for • greener planet
of installed capacity and even more wind energy contracted
or under construction. There are many wind energy success
stories in Ontario, but many challenges as well. As Ontario
looks to develop a new Long Term Energy Plan, this session
will provide perspectives...on the lessons we can learn from
Ontario's experience to date and how it can and will inform
the development of future wind energy in the province."'
Two other sessions of note were Wind Energy Around The
World, and Community Wind Projects. These discussions
examined current wind development, at home and globally,
with a forward-looking vision on how to foster enthusiasm
for renewable energy in Canada.
With Canada anticipating an average of i,Soo MW of new wind
energy projects to be commissioned annually over the next three
years' it is very important that such discussions occur. In On-
tario, this conversation is very timely, as the government is cur-
rently reviewing its Long Term Energy Plan and determining how
much wind energy will be procured moving forward; and how.
As a company committed to responsible wind development, we
believe that ongoing dialogue is essential, and want to work
with everyone involved — from our industry peers, to policy
makers, to our host communities — to ensure that Ontario con-
tinues to be a leader in adopting wind energy in a considerate
and collaborative manner. To that end, I am always available
to answer your questions or listen to your concerns — please
contact me at grandbend■northlandpower.ca.
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http://www.canweaaou.ca/program-and-events/plenary-sessions
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Northland Power is an Ontario -based company with over 25 years experience developing,
owning and operating facilities that produce and sell clean and green energy POWER
NORTHLAND