$61M wind farm going up near Amherst

The construction of a new $61-million wind farm is underway near Amherst, N.S., after 12 years and two previous attempts to get the project off the ground.

The project is expected to employ up to 50 peopleover nine months and will feature 15 wind turbines with a capacity of 31.5 megawatts.

"It would generate enough energy to power about 10,000 homes or 90 gigawatt hours on an annual basis," said Jeff Jenner, the president of Sprott Power Corp.

"We have a 25-year contract with Nova Scotia Power."

Sprott Power Corp. and Firelight Infrastructure Partners both Toronto-based companies are leading the project. Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation is also involved and the wind farm will use towers built at the Daewoo wind turbine plant in Trenton.

"Just last week, I attended the grand opening of DSTN in Trenton, and now some of the first towers they'll build at that facility will soon stand tall on the ground we are breaking here today," said Premier Darrell Dexter.

"What these projects do is they allow you to know on the front end what your costs are going to be and you don't end up being hostage to the international fossil fuel markets."

The province has set a target to have 25 per cent of its electricity come from clean, renewable sources by the year 2015. That target increases to 40 per cent by 2020.

John Kellegrew, a councillor for the Municipality of the County of Cumberland, said the county will also be a big winner because it taxes wind farms for every megawatt produced.

"It's $5,500 a megawatt and 30 megawatts, so you're looking at $165,000, in that neighbourhood," he told reporters.

"It's a real, real boost to Cumberland County."

Work is already underway on an equipment yard on the property. The plan is for the wind farm to begin producing energy late this year or early next year.