By Michael Bennett
Local Journalism Initiative
The Ridgetown Independent News
Another proposed wind farm in the Ridgetown area has popped up, seemingly out of nowhere.
EDF Power Solutions hosted a sparsely attended open house on Aug. 27, at Wilson Hall to introduce their proposed Botany Wind Farm.
Company employees were on hand at the open house to talk to residents and set up several signboards to explain the project.
The map, which is also posted on EDF’s website, shows the wind farm runs roughly from Harwich Road to the west, Fairview Line and Fysh Line to the north, Kenesserie Road to the east, Ridge Line and O’Neill Line to the south.
The proposed boundary is less than two miles to the north and northwest of Ridgetown, and less than two miles south of Thamesville.
Mark Gallagher, a director at EDF Power Solutions, told the Ridgetown Independent News that the proposed wind project will be up to 100 megawatts with 15 to 18 turbines.
“We’re in the very initial stages; this isn’t something that would come online, if we move forward, until 2030,” Gallagher said. “This is just to introduce the project area tonight and get feedback from the community.”
“We understand concerns that people might have,” Gallagher said.
The EDF director said there will be more opportunities for community engagement and to solicit public feedback in the coming months.
Gallagher said the company has been in contact with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and has been engaging with landowners and First Nations about their proposed project.
However, only a handful of people showed up at the open house.
Gallagher said the company advertised “in the paper” to promote the open house.
But when asked by Jim Brown, owner/publisher of the Ridgetown Independent News, Gallagher did not know which paper.
It also was not The Chatham Voice.
It turns out EDF placed a public notice promoting the meeting in the Aug. 13 edition of the Southpoint Sun, a weekly paper that serves the Wheatley, Leamington and Kingsville area – about 50 kilometres west of the proposed project area.
Gallagher said they had a conversation with the municipality on the day of the open house, after a notice about the project “weeks ago.”
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff acknowledged the company has reached out to the municipality.
“It’s like any business that wants to locate here. They’re exploring their feasibility, and when they figure it’s feasible, they’ll come and see us,” stated Canniff. “But right now, nothing is happening on the municipal side.”
Ryan Jacques, director of planning services for the municipality, said administration has asked for confirmation from all companies pursuing bids to the Independent Energy System Operator to confirm their intentions.
“If EDF is pursuing a project bid with the IESO, they will be provided an opportunity on Oct. 6 to address the municipal council at a regular meeting. Municipal support is a requirement of the IESO bid process,” Jacques said in an email.
Canniff also stated that any company seeking to establish a wind farm in Chatham-Kent must enter into a partnership that invests in the community, similar to the financial contributions made by Pattern Energy and Samsung Renewable Energy through their South Kent Wind project.
EDF acknowledged on its website its commitment to Chatham-Kent by entering into a “lasting partnership with the local community” if the project moves forward.
Chatham-Kent council would have the final say in approving any energy project.
The first proposed project in the local area is Capstone Infrastructure Corporation’s Crossfield Wind Farm, slated for Howard and Harwich Townships.
Capstone hosted its second community information sessions recently at Willow Ridge Golf & Country Club, near Blenheim.
Holding these meetings in Blenheim was questioned, since Capstone has reduced the size of its original project area, which is now located in Ward 3, East Kent, north of Ridgetown and east of Highgate.
The original project area included Harwich and Howard townships, starting near Communication Road to the west, to Duart Road to the east.
The new project area runs between Victoria Road and Orford Road west-to-east, Selton Line and Reeders-Teetzel Lines north-to-south.
On its website, Capstone says it is proposing up to 18 turbines for a capacity of up to 110 megawatts.
Coincidentally, the EDF Power Solutions’ Botany Wind Farm project takes in some of the western portion of Capstone’s original Crossfield Wind Farm proposed area.
