Natural Forces helping to create a new energy future for Saint John
The first large-scale wind development in the history of Saint John. Saint John Energy expects to save more than $4 million a year in energy purchase costs by tapping into Burchill.
By Robert Apold, August 31, 2020
At Natural Forces, we’re enthusiastically moving forward with the Burchill Wind Project, the first large-scale wind development in the history of Saint John.
Our company has an accomplished history of working with communities in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere around the globe to bring clean, renewable and sustainable energy to their homes and businesses.
“The first large-scale wind development in the history of Saint John.”
We have been working in New Brunswick for over 15 years, beginning with the development of the first wind farm in the province – Kent Hills, in partnership with TransAlta Corp.
It is exciting to partner with leaders and citizens in Saint John to move forward with a project that will revolutionize the energy grid in this historic city.
Our people have been busy meeting with community members, governments and other interested organizations in and around Saint John to share the design and other details of the project, gather feedback and move the project forward.
We continue to work hard, pressing forward and remaining confident in our target of having turbines producing renewable energy for Saint John in 2022.
As I write this, Natural Forces is finalizing a turbine supply agreement with Enercon, a German company and world leader in wind turbine production.
We’re planning for 10 turbines at the project site near the Spruce Lake Industrial Park. The energy that will produce – 42 megawatts – is enough to power about 15 per cent of Saint John.
Behind the scenes, we’ve been achieving some important milestones on the project, working on geotechnical requirements and design work, informed by a tremendous amount of wind data from the Burchill site.
“Saint John Energy expects to save more than $4 million a year in energy purchase costs by tapping into Burchill.”
Our expectation is that we will move forward with building roads and foundations in 2021 before installing the turbines the following year.
We know the high level of enthusiasm and interest in a future powered by renewable energy, and we share in that. Renewable energy is clean, it’s everlasting and it curbs the need for energy generation that produces carbon emissions, making for a greener future for our planet.
At the same time, a project like Burchill drives savings for the utility. Saint John Energy expects to save more than $4 million a year in energy purchase costs by tapping into Burchill.
And the project itself, expected to cost Natural Forces about $60 million to build, will help power the economy and create jobs in the greater Saint John region.
More than a 100 jobs will be created through the construction alone, some $32 million of project expenses will stay within the province, and more than $11 million in tax revenues for provincial and local governments will be realized.
Saint John Energy is investing in a significant project to extend its distribution system to Burchill, connecting the wind farm to its substations.
We are looking forward to moving through the environmental impact assessment for Burchill this fall. Those interested in the project will find more information on our Burchill Wind Project webpage and are welcome to attend upcoming community information sessions.
“Our next session is scheduled for Sept. 3, with social distancing precautions in place”
Our next session is scheduled for Sept. 3, with social distancing precautions in place, of course. We’re planning another for just before the start of construction, expected to be next summer.
We’ve been impressed by the interest people have shown in this project – our previous three public information sessions have demonstrated a high level of engagement and curiosity in Burchill.
Community is our focus in Saint John, as it is with all our other projects – including two others in New Brunswick, the Oinpegitjoig Wind Project in Richibucto partnership with Pabineau First Nation and the Wocawson Energy Project with Tobique First Nation.
Our passion as a company is to build relationships with communities that harness natural resources in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective way. We partner with them to generate renewable electricity and deliver local economic prosperity.
We look forward to a lasting and rewarding relationship with the people of Saint John and partnering with the progressive team at Saint John Energy to create a new energy future for the city.
Robert Apold is the executive director of Natural Forces and a wind energy pioneer in New Brunswick as a driving force behind the province’s first large-scale wind farm in Kent Hills.