Ottawa is contributing a major sum of money to the Burchill Wind Project under development in Saint John.
Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long announced Tuesday that the project will receive $49.9 million.
“Together we are setting the tone for what green energy development will look like across the Maritimes, and hopefully across our country,” Long said.
The federal funding was provided by Natural Resource Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), which has provided $922 million over four years for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects.
“This program will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enabling increased renewable energy capacity that will provide essential grid services while supporting Canada’s ongoing transition to a net-zero economy by 2050 and Canada’s commitment to achieve a 100 per cent net-zero emitting electricity system by 2035,” reads a release from Natural Resources Canada.
The Burchill Wind Project is a partnership between the Tobique First Nation and Natural Forces Development.
The wind farm will consist of 10 wind turbine generators, which will produce up to 42 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. It also has a utility-scale energy storage facility.
The energy it produces will be purchased by Saint John Energy, the city’s electric utility, at a locked-in rate for 25 years. According to Saint John Energy, the project will provide enough power to supply up to 15 per cent of the city’s energy needs.
Map outlining the location of the turbines for the Burchill Wind Project. (Image from Natural Forces)
Originally, the project cost was set at approximately $60 million, however, it now stands at $95 million.
“The $60 million was probably a low number to begin with, and now we’re seeing price increases due to the supply chain, which is happening across the world. I would say turbine prices have increased since that time, but also we’re adding a lot of other pieces that weren’t part of that original design,” said Robert Apold, executive director of Natural Forces.
Even though there are worldwide issues in the supply chain, Apold added the wind farm will still be up and running by the end of 2022.
“The turbines should be arriving in September, and as you can see the first pour starts this week, so foundations should be done by the end of June, and then the site just waits until the turbines show up, and then we install them.”
Tobique First Nation Chief Ross Perley was also part of Tuesday’s announcement.
During an interview, Perley said the project has massive benefits for his community, especially as construction continues to pick up speed.
“We have skilled labour, we have operators, scaffolders. Wherever we can employ people from the community, not just Tobique but other Wolastoqey communities as well, we’re going to make them a priority.”
Burchill is the second wind project partnership between Tobique First Nation and Natural Forces. Wocawson Wind is located east of Sussex.
“We’re using our experience, and using our relationships that we’ve developed through Wocawson to jump into this project.”
Chief Perley added the Wocawson location is overperforming and he hopes Burchill will do the same.
“I’m hopeful that this one will overperform as well because it’s in a good area for wind.”
Work is being done on the base of the first wind turbine at the Burchill Wind Project. The 10-turbine project will provide renewable energy for Saint John and beyond. pic.twitter.com/tO17aov3c9
— Tim Herd (@timherdradio) May 17, 2022
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