Public meeting to discuss wind farm expansion

Islanders can comment on a proposed new wind farm in eastern Kings County during a public meeting late next week.

Increasing the province’s wind energy production was one of the major recommendations in the province’s new energy strategy. The public meeting will be next Thursday, June 15 at the Eastern Kings Community Centre at 7 pm.

“The existing wind farms in the area have received support from local residents and we want to continue our dialogue by sharing information and getting feedback on this proposal,” Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar said. “We look forward to working together with the community on this project so Prince Edward Island can remain a world leader in producing clean, renewable wind energy.”

The energy strategy called for two more wind farms to be developed in the province, a 30-megawatt wind farm in 2019 and a 40-megawatt farm in 2025. Prince Edward Island currently generates 25 per cent of its own electricity from wind, the second-highest percentage in the world.

There are presently two wind farms in eastern Kings, one at East Point and the other at Hermanville/Clear Springs.  Construction of the Hermanville wind farm was completed in 2014 at a cost of $60 million, following stringent environmental and regulatory approvals. Approximately $350,000 is being provided each year to nearby landowners and the community at large through royalties and a community development fund to support local businesses and community projects.

The Prince Edward Island Energy Corporation operates three wind farms in the province, East Point, Hermanville/Clear Springs and North Cape.

Media contact:
Wayne MacKinnon
(902) 314-3407
wemackinnon@gov.pe.ca