Southgate energy project won’t use DWP line

March 19, 2014 · 0 Comments

In the face of an element of skepticism about the transmission of electricity from a planned 170 MW wind and solar installation in Southgate Township to the Hydro One grid, a spokesman for the proponent says the power would connect directly to the Bruce to Milton line, which crosses through Southgate.

The mega project is a partnership of Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy. It also developed the Chatham-Kent installation.

Blackburn News had reported in late January that the development would comprise about 40 turbines in the east (former Proton Township) and 700 acres of ground-mounted solar in the northwest (former Egremont).

By early February, Wind Concerns Ontario tagged Mayor Brian Milne as the “wind-happy mayor,” but the mayor on March 5 voted to oppose declaring the township a “willing host” until satisfactory agreements had been executed with the partnership.

The “willing host” condition also applies to the solar panels, according to a separate vote of township council. But former township mayor Don Lewis was quoted as in favour of the solar farm as it is on already-leased 700 acres of Class 4 farmland. Mayor Milne had declared a conflict with respect to the solar installation.

Proton shares its eastern boundary with Melancthon. A Van Harten map of the proposed wind farm shows five study areas as being close to, or situated on, the Melancthon boundary.

Samsung representative Ken Smitheman said in a phone interview Monday, however, that the studies for the turbine development do not in any way involve Melancthon.

Specifically, he said there are no plans to connect to Dufferin Wind Power’s transmission line on the rail corridor through Dufferin.

Samsung Pattern “have been assured” there is capacity on the Bruce line that runs right through the township.

He said the study for the turbines “does not involve any development in Melancthon (and) we are not crossing Highway 10.”

By Wes Keller