EDF Power Solutions plans a 100 megawatt project

Heather Wright/The Herald

There is word of another possible wind project in the region and this one will be very close to Thamesville if it is built.

EDF Power Solutions wants to build a 100 megawatt project which would have towers in an area bounded by Thamesville, Ridgetown and Harwich Road.

The so-called Botany Wind project is one of two in the area being pitched to the Independent Energy System Operator. It’s evaluating a number of different types of wind projects in December.

One of the requirements of submitting a proposal tot he IESO is community approval. Municipal leaders must provide a letter of support for the project to move forward. So far, the issue has yet to come to council.

They also must hold a community meeting to talk about the project. Some Thamesville residents on social media said they were surprised to hear about the project and only received notification of the only public meeting after it had happened Aug. 27.

“The Project team will engage with community members, First Nations, local government officials, and local businesses to make sure the final Project design is socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable,” the company states on its website.

“Our goal is to minimize potential impacts to the environment, local stakeholders, and to partner with First Nation communities.” 

Former Chatham-Kent Councillor and Publisher of The Ridgetown Independent News, Jim Brown, heard about the meeting at the last minute. He said there were very few members of the public on hand, except for a number of people he had contacted minutes before the meeting.

It’s not clear if the company will be holding another public meeting.

The company’s website also identifies the local benefits including construction jobs, spin offs into local restaurants and tourism facilities and increased tax revenue.

EDR says is working on its submission, consulting the public and looking for landowners to sign leases before the submission deadline in mid-December.

If the company wins a contract it expects to start construction in 2028 with the turbines turning by 2030.

The Botany Wind project is the second proposed for the area. Capstone Infrastructure has plans for a 200 megawatt project.

Both will be evaluated by the IESO and there is no guarantee either developments will be given the green light.

It’s not clear when the companies will go to Chatham-Kent Council asking for a letter of support.

Last summer, Chatham-Kent council rejected a bid by North Kent Councillor Rhonda Jubenville to declare the municipality an unwilling host.

CK is home to Ontario’s largest wind project, South Kent Wind, with 123 turbines generating enough energy for over 100,000 homes.