HOLBERG - A proposed wind farm would mean an immediate construction boom
and long-term jobs, says Sea Breeze Power.
Sea Breeze proposes a 100 megawatt wind farm, 35 km northwest of Port
Hardy, that?s part of BC Hydro?s current call for green power, said Sea
Breeze vice-president Resja Campfens, and a decision is expected soon.
?Our Knob Hill Wind Farm is in this call ... it?s being reviewed right
now,? Campfens told regional directors Feb. 17. ?If Knob Hill was
approved, it would be up in 2010 or 2011.?
The first wind farm approved in B.C. is being built in the Peace River
region, said Campfens, and it will be the same 100 megawatt size
(capable of serving 30,000 homes) that Sea Breeze proposes near Holberg.
Construction at Knob Hill would mean roughly 200 jobs during
construction, said Campfens. In the longer term, that would add 26
sustainable jobs to the B.C. economy, with half in the North Island, she
added.
?We have been trying to establish good relations in Port Hardy in hopes
of getting a power purchase agreement from BC Hydro,? said Campfens.
In response to a question about whether first nations in the area
support the project, Campfens qualified her answer. ?I feel we have good
relationships, we are talking to them all the time, and we did get a
letter from all three bands supporting the Knob Hill project.?
One key issue for Sea Breeze, and any other wind farm considering the
North Island, is the size of the power transmission line serving the
region. In the past, the regional board supported increasing it.
?We have tried to be supportive,? said Area B director Phil Wainwright,
whose area includes Holberg. ?How can we continue that positively, so we
can improve our economy??
Port Hardy mayor Bev Parnham supported the idea. ?It would be nice to
get one going,? she said.
Campfens had come to talk about independent power producers in general,
and added info about Sea Breeze in response to questions.
The company also wants to introduce its plans to a mostly new Port Hardy
council.
?I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Sea Breeze and its
Knob Hill Wind Farm project,? wrote Campfens in a separate letter.
?The Knob Hill Wind Farm has been under development (planning,
consultation and permitting) for the past five years,? wrote Campfens.
?Sea Breeze has been working closely with the local communities and
first nations? and is ?the first wind farm project to receive an
Environmental Assessment Certificate.?
Sea Breeze submitted its project to a recent call for green power by BC
Hydro, says Campfens, and the winners are expected to be announced this
June.
Sea Breeze ?has been an active participant in the Mount Waddington
Regional District for the past five years,? said Campfens. ?During the
spring-summer months, Sea Breeze has employed several local tradespeople
for meteorological work.?
The company is expected to address Port Hardy council at a future date.
Resja Campfens
Vice President
Sea Breeze Power Corp.
Lobby Box 91
Suite 1400 - 333 Seymour St.
Vancouver, BC V5B 5A6
T: 604.689.2991
C: 778.228.7624
F: 604.689.2990
E: ResjaCampfens@SeaBreezePower.com
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