Officials behind Saint John’s first wind farm say it should be producing power by year’s end.
The Burchill Wind Project is located on a stretch of Crown land in the Lorneville area of the city.
Natural Forces, a Halifax-based company, will build and operate the 10-turbine wind farm.
The energy it produces will be purchased by Saint John Energy, the city’s electric utility, at a locked-in rate for 25 years.
Amy Pellerin, director of Canadian Development for Natural Forces, said crews have already started clearing trees and building the main access road through the site.
“The next big work to start soon will be the foundations, we actually started digging for some of the foundations more recently. That will continue on throughout all of the spring and summer,” Pellerin said in a recent interview.
The turbines are set to arrive on-site in September, she said, and will be installed throughout the fall.
According to Saint John Energy, the project will provide 42 megawatts of power — enough to supply up to 15 per cent of the city’s energy needs.
“We’re expecting that it’ll save about 43,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, which is the equivalent of around 14,000 cars off the road,” said Pellerin.
The project is running about a year behind its original schedule due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Natural Forces is investing about $60 million in the project and Saint John Energy is contributing about $15 million.
In late 2020, Saint John council approved a 10-year debenture application from the utility for its portion of the project.
Saint John Energy estimates the reduced energy rate would add $4 million to its bottom line each year. There are also penalties if the wind farm does not produce at a minimum level.
Meanwhile, Pellerin said Natural Forces is working with the Wolastoqey Nations of New Brunswick to help choose a name for the main road running through the site.
“Through the consultation process, we were trying to find ways that we could include a little bit more of the local history with the Wolastoqey. That was an idea that they had and the city was on board,” she said.
A staff report set to come before Saint John council on Monday night recommends the road be named Pisunawtik Road.
