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minir · 12-23-02, 10:43 AM

A piece in the Toronto Sun Newspaper i thought might be of interest to some

[Ad]
Monday, December 23, 2002
Wind power a go
T.O.'s first urban turbine installed

By STEVE KRAVITZ, TORONTO SUN

Installation of the first urban wind turbine in North America was completed this weekend at the west end of Exhibition Place.

The 94-metre-tall windmill will not start generating power until mid-January, but its owners said yesterday it is already generating interest in alternative-energy resources.

The turbine is the brainchild of the Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative and is jointly owned by spinoff project WindShare and Toronto Hydro.

WindShare president Ed Hale said yesterday it was important to build the windmill in the city in spite of an extensive approval process.

'HIGHLY VISIBLE ICON'

"We did it because we wanted a highly visible icon in the largest market in Canada," he said.

Bryan Young, TREC executive director, said the windmill had to be accessible to the public.

"We wanted to make a point about the socially and environmentally benign nature of wind power."

When it is up and running, the $2-million turbine will produce enough electricity for 250 households and emit no pollution.

To start, the windmill's output will flow into the general electricity grid and WindShare's 450 shareholders will receive a dividend as power generators. But Hale and Young expect that shareholders will eventually use only the "green" power they produce.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

They also hope the windmill will encourage more alternative-energy projects. WindShare's own plans for another turbine in Ashbridge's Bay have been put in doubt by the province's recent hydro rate freeze.

"No one is signing power purchasing agreements, so it's put every project that I know of on hold," Hale said.

Young said that the market for wind power is growing, not only because it is clean power, but because it is a good investment.

He said the new windmill -- visible from as far away as Burlington -- has attracted "a huge amount of attention" already.

A New Attraction for Toronto

regards

minir

12-23-02, 10:43 AM	#1
minir Scallywag Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 25,633	Toronto, First Urban Wind Turbine in North America A piece in the Toronto Sun Newspaper i thought might be of interest to some [Ad] Monday, December 23, 2002 Wind power a go T.O.'s first urban turbine installed By STEVE KRAVITZ, TORONTO SUN Installation of the first urban wind turbine in North America was completed this weekend at the west end of Exhibition Place. The 94-metre-tall windmill will not start generating power until mid-January, but its owners said yesterday it is already generating interest in alternative-energy resources. The turbine is the brainchild of the Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative and is jointly owned by spinoff project WindShare and Toronto Hydro. WindShare president Ed Hale said yesterday it was important to build the windmill in the city in spite of an extensive approval process. 'HIGHLY VISIBLE ICON' "We did it because we wanted a highly visible icon in the largest market in Canada," he said. Bryan Young, TREC executive director, said the windmill had to be accessible to the public. "We wanted to make a point about the socially and environmentally benign nature of wind power." When it is up and running, the $2-million turbine will produce enough electricity for 250 households and emit no pollution. To start, the windmill's output will flow into the general electricity grid and WindShare's 450 shareholders will receive a dividend as power generators. But Hale and Young expect that shareholders will eventually use only the "green" power they produce. ALTERNATIVE ENERGY They also hope the windmill will encourage more alternative-energy projects. WindShare's own plans for another turbine in Ashbridge's Bay have been put in doubt by the province's recent hydro rate freeze. "No one is signing power purchasing agreements, so it's put every project that I know of on hold," Hale said. Young said that the market for wind power is growing, not only because it is clean power, but because it is a good investment. He said the new windmill -- visible from as far away as Burlington -- has attracted "a huge amount of attention" already. A New Attraction for Toronto regards minir