Finavera Wind Energy has received an environmental assessment (EA) certificate for the proposed Tumbler Ridge Wind Energy Project in northeastern British Columbia, the provincial Environmental Assessment Office announced March 29.
Environment Minister Terry Lake and Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman made the decision to grant the EA Certificate after considering the review led by the environmental office. The proposed C$125m project will be located eight kilometers southwest of Tumbler Ridge. Once completed, the project will produce up to 49.6 MW of wind energy, enough to provide energy for up to 18,000 homes.
BC Hydro awarded Finavera Wind Energy an Electricity Purchase Agreement (EPA) in March 2010. Under the conditions of the EPA, the project’s commercial operational date, meaning electricity delivery date to the BC Hydro grid, is November 2012. The project will include up to 33 wind turbine generators and new transmission line connecting to the BC Hydro electrical transmission system.
Finavera CEO Jason Bak said in a March 30 statement: “The award of an Environmental Assessment Certificate for the Tumbler Ridge Wind Energy Project marks a successful milestone for Finavera and our project portfolio in British Columbia. This project has been under development since 2007 and the culmination of this environmental assessment process means we can now move forward towards construction on this project. This EAC marks the final step in a development process that has already secured a power purchase agreement, transmission interconnection, and site control. The next steps are to execute a turbine supply agreement, select a construction contractor, secure project financing, and begin construction.”
In March 2010, Finavera was awarded 25-year EPAs by BC Hydro for the 47-MW Tumbler Ridge, 77-MW Wildmare, 117-MW Meikle and 60-MW Bullmoose wind projects. The Wildmare project is currently in the environmental assessment application review stage and the Meikle project is being prepared for submission.
