Gunn's Hill Wind Farm - REA Appeal Dismissed, Construction Under Way
Woodstock, Ontario, October 22, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Oxford Community Energy Co-operative (OCEC) is pleased to announce that the Environmental Review Tribunal has decided to unconditionally dismiss the appeal of the Renewable Energy Approval issued for the Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm.
The Tribunal has found that the Appellant failed to meet the onus required by the statutory test, to show that engaging the Project in accordance with the REA will cause serious harm to human health, or serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life or the natural environment, and that, therefore, the appeal should be dismissed.
"OCEC has developed a very strong investor community in Oxford County," says Helmut Schneider, President of OCEC. "We are enthusiastic that our members have put their trust in the ability of the Oxford Community Energy Co-op to manage their investment in this important project. We are confident that we are offering a long term, sustainable project for our community. Investment opportunities in community owned projects that have significant environmental and economic benefits are rare and are sought after by investors."
Helmut Schneider, President of OCEC
The ERT decision is clear and confirms our confidence in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s approval in April of 2015 of the Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm project.
This dismissal of the appeal now allows the project to move forward in its construction schedule and has been eagerly anticipated by OCEC‘s investors. The OCEC is developing the 18 MW, ten-turbine wind farm in Oxford County jointly with Prowind Canada Inc. and the Six Nations of the Grand River under the Gunn’s Hill Limited Partnership.
The Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm is the largest community owned renewable energy project to gain Renewable Energy Approval in Ontario.
OCEC has secured 49% ownership of the project for its investors and is looking forward to work with the community throughout the construction period of the 18 MW 10 Turbine Wind project.
Construction started this month and is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2016. The project is expected to create over 200 jobs during the construction phase and source significant amounts of construction material from local suppliers.
About OCEC:
Oxford Community Energy Co-operative Inc. is a renewable energy co-op based in Oxford County with its office in Woodstock, Ontario. The OCEC was specifically developed to invite the local community to own up to 49% of the Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm project and to continue to develop other renewable energy projects in Oxford County in the future. The OCEC presently has 185 members, many of them are residence of Oxford County. The Co-op has sold approximately $9 million in shares and bonds to its members, which concluded the equity investment opportunity for this project. Additionally OCEC has made the effort to expand its renewable energy portfolio by applying for nearly 4 MW of new solar installations in Oxford County.
About Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm:
Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm is an 18 MW wind project located in Oxford County. The project consists of 10 Senvion MM92 turbines and will be the first co-operatively owned wind farm in Ontario.
About Gunn’s Hill LP:
Gunn’s Hill LP is a partnership formed between Prowind Canada Inc., Oxford Community Energy Co-op, and Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corp to own and operate the Gunn’s Hill Wind Farm.
Press Contact:
Oxford Community Energy Co-op
Helmut Schneider, President
Phone: 519.788.2598
Email: helmut@oxford-cec.ca
Alan Dale, Director, Media Relations
Phone: 519.424.9525
Email: alan@oxford-cec.ca