Temagami testing wind farm potential.Temagami -- A Temagami-based organization is assessing the potential for a co-operative wind farm in northeastern Ontario Northeastern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and east of Lakes Superior and Huron. Northeastern Ontario consists of Algoma District, Sudbury District, Cochrane District, Timiskaming District, Nipissing District, Manitoulin . [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In August, The Renewable Energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. Co-operative North (TREC TREC Texas Real Estate Commission TREC Text Retrieval Conference TREC Technique de Randonnée Equestre de Compétition TREC Tropical Research and Education Center TREC T-cell Receptor Excision Circle TREC Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating North) erected a 60-metre wind-testing tower in the Temagami industrial park to determine whether or not there is enough wind power to justify building a 10-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Temagami. Prior to the 12-month wind resource assessment and feasibility study The analysis of a problem to determine if it can be solved effectively. The operational (will it work?), economical (costs and benefits) and technical (can it be built?) aspects are part of the study. Results of the study determine whether the solution should be implemented. , the 70-member, not-for-profit organization completed a preliminary RETScreen check, a renewable energy technology screening process. TREC North board member Anna Gibson-Olajos says they used Sudbury wind data because it was the closest wind data they had for the area. A year's worth of data is required before phase four, the business structure, can begin. Should the data prove in favour of the wind farm, a for-profit co-operative would be created, selling shares to interested residents. Gibson-Olajos says the focus is community ownership. "There are private wind farms going up in Northern Ontario Northern Ontario is the part of the province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron (including Georgian Bay), the French River and Lake Nipissing. Northern Ontario has a land area of 802,000 km² (310,000 mi²) and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it , but currently, there is no opportunity for people in this area to invest, so that is what we are trying to create." Presently, the plan is to erect five 2-MW towers, which would produce twice the power required in Temagami. Excess power would be sold to the North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. grid, generating profits for co-operative shareholders. The future site for the project is still in the application process, but TREC North is considering publicly-owned land, possibly an abandoned mine site, minimizing environmental impact. The total cost for the project is estimated to be $20 million. It would produce several jobs, a tax base and clean renewable energy for the community and the grid. The additional supply would also enhance the grid's overall stability. Last fall, TREC North's efforts toward advancing "green" co-operative energy were recognized by the Ontario Co-operative Association with the Co-operative Innovator Award. With the municipality as a supporting partner in the project, FedNor, the Ontario Co-operative Association, the Ontario Sustainable Energy
Sustainable energy sources are energy sources which are not expected to be depleted in a timeframe relevant to the human race, and which Association and the Temagami Community Foundation are providing support. The largest financial contribution ($158,500) came from the Green Municipal Fund. www.trecnorth.ca By ADELLE LARMOUR Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario. |
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