This 180-MW power project is the largest wind development in British Columbia with the capacity to generate clean energy for up to 54,000 homes, increasing the installed wind power capacity in British Columbia by 38 per cent. It will generate benefits for the province with an estimated $70 million in payments for property taxes, Crown lease payments, wind participation rent, and community benefits over the first 25 years of operations. The project is utilizing 61 wind turbines and has a 25-year power purchase agreement with BC Hydro.
The project also includes a single, two-way traffic access road from Highway 29 to the project site and connecting roads to access the turbines, a substation to convert power as required for transmission by BC Hydro, a four-kilometre transmission line to transfer power from the substation to the BC Hydro grid, a permanent operations building, and two permanent meteorological towers. The project was designed and planned incorporating input from First Nations, the Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd communities, and the provincial government. The project received its environmental assessment certificate in June 2014. The project is expected to be operational later in 2017.
