Ventus, Wardrop collaborate on wind energy development.

Wind energy is predicted to become big business in Canada with billions of dollars being invested for development in the next decade, an investor/developer says.

North western Ontario is becoming dotted with meteorological towers assessing potential wind energy and president of Ventus Energy, John Douglas, is just one developer who has secured five test locations in the region. Two locations are in and around Thunder Bay, one is on Pays Plat First Nation reserve, located 150 kilometres east of Thunder Bay, and the remaining two have yet to be made public.

"Our intention would be to have a meaningful share of the wind parks, especially in the northwest," Douglas says.

A resident in Shuniah Township has entered into an agreement to option a portion of his land for wind tests. That parcel was recently expanded to 10,000 acres to include a portion of town land.

A 100-megawatt wind farm will cost approximately $160 million, Douglas says.

"There may be a couple of hundred direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase," he anticipates, with another 10 to 25 jobs for 20 years, once the project reaches maturation.

Wind farm development can become a real industry for Thunder Bay, especially when companies indicate an interest in manufacturing wind turbines.

"(Thunder Bay) is a great place. They have steel-making capabilities and a fresh water port, so it's a No. 1 location," Douglas says.

A few companies have become interested in the idea and Douglas has steered them to other manufacturers to get an idea of how such a facility works. GE Energy, an American company, was recently awarded a contract to supply up to 660 wind turbines totaling 990 megawatts of wind-generated electricity to the province of Quebec between 2006 and 2012.

North western projects are in the wind analysis and environment assessment phases. Winter months carry cold, dense winds, creating more energy. It will take the winter to determine whether the sites will yield the energy needed to develop farms. By spring 2005. Douglas will be in a better position to determine whether or not the spots will be commercially viable. Recently, the company announced a $10-million equity investment aimed at program expansion with wind energy developments. Once the Ministry of Energy calls for more request for proposals for wind power generation, Douglas will have all his data from the test sites and a financial model in place to vie for a portion of the 2,700 megawatts the province will be asking for.

Douglas has set up an office within Wardrop's Thunder Bay office. If wind becomes as big an industry as he believes it might be, it could also mean one of the largest civil engineering projects in the province.

"Wardrop has been amazingly supportive. They see a huge opportunity there."

Over the next 10 years, Canada is expected to spend $10 billion to $20 billion in wind energy development, he says. A multitude of technicians and engineers will be needed to maintain projects across the province.

Once projects are released from government, Wardrop will be obtaining the civil engineering designs, Sherry Ahmad, manager for transmission and distribution at Wardrop, says.

"We have already negotiated that with (John Douglas)," he says.

They will also oversee the electrical connections. If the wind farms connect to the transmission grid, the Independent Market Operator will have accountability for studies to determine the impact on the grid system, along with other modifications.

By KELLY LOUISEIZE

Northern Ontario Business