The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) approves third phase of Grand Valley Wind Farm, with 40 MW wind turbines to be built in Grand Valley and Amaranth, reports Orangeville.com
According to the Renewable Energy Approval (REA), Grand Valley Wind Farms has been gained permission to construct and operate up to 16 wind turbines and a 45 MVA transformer. It had applied for REA approval earlier this year.
Veresen will be the developing partner for the project which has got three years to connect the entire 40 MW facility to the grid.
After a comprehensive review and consultation, the ministry has approved Grand Valley Wind Farms Phase 3 wind project in Dufferin County, stated, Kate Jordan, spokesperson, MOE.
Many of the conditions, including the requirement for a traffic management plan, noise requirements and the requirement to create an emergency response and communications plan address comments had been heard from the public and Town of Grand Valley, explained, Jordan.
During the initial stages of the plan, people opposed the proposal citing reasons like noise, health, water, safety, loss of property values and farmland, among many other issues. The project’s proximity to the Luther Marsh Wildlife Area, home to endangered species of birds was also a matter of concern.
Due to this opposition, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) officials asked the developer to go through an Environment Effects Monitoring Plan (EEMP). The REA approval requires Grand Valley Wind Farms to apply the mitigation as well as monitoring methods as directed in that plan.
The project is not located in the marshland but the Ministry of Natural Resources did review and confirm the natural heritage assessment work completed by the developer, Jordan added.
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Rajani Baburajan
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