Toronto Energy Company Proposes 200 Megawatt Wind Farm Between Campbell River And Sayward
A wind farm is being proposed for a site 40 kilometres northwest of Campbell River in the Strathcona Regional District.
The Brewster Wind Project aims to have a capacity of up to 200 megawatts, featuring about 30 wind turbines. The project will also include a substation, access roads, an interconnection transmission line, and ancillary equipment, operating for 30 years.
In a letter to the regional district submitted in August, Andrea Kausel, Vice President of Development at Capstone Infrastructure, stated that the company is reaching out to provide preliminary notice and begin early-stage consultation.
According to a map submitted by the company, the towers will be erected in two clusters southwest of Sayward.
The letter highlights the need for new resources due to a 15 per cent increase in electricity demand by 2030. The 2024 Call for Power by BC Hydro aims to contract the lowest-cost projects that provide maximum value to the grid and rate-payers.
Last month, the regional district advised the company to consult with caving and paleontology experts, such as those at the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance and Royal B.C. Museum, given the region’s unique cave formations.
At a Sept. 25 district meeting, Martin Davis, an SRD director and cave researcher, emphasized the importance of identifying stakeholders early to assess the proposal’s feasibility. Davis noted that limestone could make the land “inherently unstable,” as evidenced by a previous wind farm proposal near Port Alice that faced environmental challenges.
Capstone Infrastructure’s website addresses the potential effects of wind farms on wildlife, acknowledging that these large-scale infrastructure projects can pose risks. The company mentions that early planning stages can help evaluate impacts. While birds and bats are particularly at risk, careful siting and design, along with in-depth field surveys, can help quantify, avoid, or mitigate impacts to acceptable levels.
Capstone Infrastructure has also proposed a 35-turbine wind farm between Kamloops and Merritt, B.C., in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. The company operates various power facilities across Canada, including a 16-megawatt hydro power station in Sechelt.
Proposals were due in September, and BC Hydro will award the agreements in December. According to the company, new projects are set to launch between 2028 and 2031.
If successful, the Brewster Wind Project will require an environmental assessment, starting in 2025. The company also plans to conduct further engagement with local communities.
