New backers for B.C. wind farm

By Tom Fletcher - BC Local News Published: June 03, 2009

Wind turbine blades, each 45 metres long, await installation at Dokie Ridge near Chetwynd last year. One of B.C.'s first wind farm projects could be revived and completed by next year. GE Energy Financial Services and Plutonic Power Corp. have announced an agreement to consider purchasing the Dokie Ridge wind project near Chetwynd in northeast B.C. The developer, EarthFirst Canada Inc., sought court-ordered creditor protection late last year after completing much of the first phase, and taking delivery of the first wind tower components. Phase one was planned for 48 turbines, and a provincial environment permit has also been granted for a second phase on nearby Wartenbe Mountain. In a statement, GE and Plutonic said capital costs to complete the project have not yet been finalized. If conditions are met, Plutonic would take possession of the project by August, resume construction this fall and complete it by late 2010.

Plutonic is best known as a major player in run-of-river power development, with the 196 megawatt East Toba River Montrose Creek under construction north of Powell River. Plutonic and GE are partners on that project, a proposed 166 megawatt second phase in the Upper Toba Valley and a much larger 1,027 megawatt system in nearby Bute Inlet. Dokie Ridge and Wartenbe Mountain were identified in a 2004 survey as the two best land-based wind energy sites in B.C. Earthfirst estimated that the Dokie site would generate 340 gigawatt hours per year, enough to supply the equivalent of 34,000 homes.

Construction is continuing on Bear Mountain Wind Park near Dawson Creek, expected to be the first to supply power to the B.C. Hydro system later this year. Started by a local co-operative, the Bear Mountain project was taken over by Calgary-based AltaGas Income Fund to finance 34 wind turbines and associated power lines and equipment.