K2 Wind Ontario
In July 2013, K2 Wind Ontario LP (K2 Wind) — a partnership between Capital Power, Samsung Renewable Energy, Inc., and Pattern Energy Group LP — received a Renewable Energy Approval (REA) from the Government of Ontario for the K2 Wind Power Project (the Project). Achieving the REA was a major milestone in the development of the 270 megawatt project, which will be one of Ontario’s largest renewable energy facilities.
The REA was awarded following a rigorous environmental assessment and public engagement process. Studies were conducted on a wide range of environmental, cultural, and technical aspects of the Project. These included:
- archaeology and cultural heritage assessments
- technical studies
- studies on birds and bats, amphibians, wildlife
- ground water and water body assessments
Four public open houses, along with other stakeholder engagement activities, were held as part of the multi-year REA process.
Engagement with the municipal government
In April 2013, the Township of Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh and K2 Wind executed two key agreements:
- Community Benefits Fund Agreement (CBFA)
- Road User Agreement (RUA)
K2 Wind’s RUA covers how the Township and K2 Wind will work together during the development of the Project. For example, the RUA requires K2 Wind to repair roads should damage occur. K2 Wind will bury collector lines in the road allowance, with the exception of locations where there are environmental constraints. Less than 1% of the Project’s collector lines will be above ground on poles.
Community Liaison Committee
Following the granting of the REA by the Government of Ontario, K2 Wind established the Community Liaison Committee (CLC). This is a forum in which to exchange ideas and share information and to provide regular updates as the project progresses through construction and into operations. The CLC is another means of communication between the company and community members with respect to construction, installation, use, operation, and maintenance of the facility.
The CLC offers an opportunity to engage other participants, such as municipalities, conservation authorities, Aboriginal communities, federal of provincial agencies, and community groups. Committee members are encouraged to attend four meetings over a two-year period and are encouraged to share information with, and gather information from, other members of the community. These meetings are open to the public. The first meeting was held in December 2013.
Port Dover & Nanticoke Wind Project
Hiring locally
We work to support the local economy for all our projects and facilities. On November 8, 2013 Port Dover and Nanticoke Wind Energy Facility began commercial operation. This concluded a year-long construction process, which saw approximately 250 people working on the site at peak activity. The Project generated/created approximately 400,000 site person hours, or 200 person years, of site work. Over 96% of our site work hours were hired from the Ontario workplace, which exceeded our Ontario Power Authority mandated 95%.
Community Liaison Committee
In September 2012, Capital Power established a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) as a condition of the REA granted to the Project by the Government of Ontario. One CLC meeting was held in April 2013. The primary goal of this meeting was to provide CLC members and the public with background on the construction process. Capital Power staff provided background on road construction, the process for installing electrical collector lines, the development of turbine foundations, assembly of turbines, environmental monitoring, and other technical aspects.
Another CLC meeting was scheduled in December, but re-scheduled to early 2014.
Environmental Review Tribunal Decision
In January 2013, the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) issued its decision on an appeal of the REA awarded to Capital Power for the Port Dover and Nanticoke wind energy facility. The Tribunal determined that the individual and group who launched the appeal had not established either that the Project (as approved) will cause serious harm to human health, or that the Project (as approved) will cause serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life, or the natural environment. The Tribunal dismissed the appeals and recommended that Capital Power undertake additional Natural Heritage pre- and post-construction monitoring. We are currently conducting a comprehensive Natural Heritage post-construction monitoring program at site and have also included the recommendations as part of this program.