Community shows support for wind farm

It was standing room only at a public meeting for a proposed wind farm in Kings County, P.E.I. Tuesday night, with most at the meeting appearing to be in favour of the project.

This is the province's second effort to find a location for a farm that would include 10 turbines producing 30 megawatts of power. The community council in Eastern Kings rejected the project, despite a small majority of residents voting in favour of it.

There were close to a 100 people at St. Margarets Community Hall to hear Energy Minister Wes Sheridan pitch the project to Hermanville and Clear Springs Tuesday. Resident Patricia McLean-Ettinger spoke up in favour of the plan.

"We can't let this opportunity slip from our fingers. I think it's going to help the community area," said McLean-Ettinger.

Sheridan was pleased to see support for the project.

"There is quite a majority in the room tonight who are in favour of moving forward with the economic development piece in this area," said Sheridan.

Sheridan told the meeting the community and landowners in Hermanville will receive $9 million over 15 years. On Wednesday the province called CBC News to correct that figure, saying would be $4.875 million.

The sentiment was not unanimous. Jack MacDonald, who owns a vacation property in the area, accused the province of rushing the plan.

"For any of us, anyone in this room, to develop an informed opinion, to do that due diligence, that is what I think is severely lacking in this whole process," said MacDonald.

An environmental assessment will take place, and another meeting is planned at that time. The province plans on opening the wind farm before the end of next year.