Long proven as a source of clean, renewable power, wind is by far the world’s fastest-growing source of electricity. European Union countries increased their wind energy by over 150 per cent between 2000 and 2006. And the trend continues, with a range of independent companies competing to fill the demand.
Countries like Denmark have been generating wind power for decades, giving them plenty of time to monitor the environmental effects. Building on that experience, Denmark plans to increase its independently generated wind energy from 23 per cent of consumption at present to 50 per cent by 2025.
Even so, the United Kingdom is about to take over Europe’s lead. In a dramatic change of energy policy, the UK plans to increase wind power more than 300 per cent by 2020. As a result, offshore wind farms could be generating enough electricity for every UK home by 2020. Last October the UK replaced Denmark as the world leader for offshore wind energy.
Other countries, too, are taking advantage of this source of clean, renewable energy. So are other provinces — all nine of them, in fact. When it comes to wind farms, B.C. is Canada’s only holdout.
A few B.C. projects are under development but work has stalled on the Dokie wind farm that was being built near Chetwynd. Unexpected cost over-runs on this project show how independents shield BC Hydro and consumers from the financial risk of clean electricity proposals.
But a few other B.C. wind farms are in the works. Construction has already begun on the Bear Mountain wind farm near Dawson Creek, which is scheduled to open in November. The project will supply enough electricity for 38,000 average B.C. homes. In addition, work will begin this year on the Mount Hays Wind Farm near Prince Rupert. Scheduled for completion in October, it will provide enough electricity for about 10,000 homes.
B.C.’s greatest wind potential lies in the Peace River region, northern Vancouver Island, the Okanagan, the Kootenays and even more in offshore farms along the coast.
These locations offer ideal geography and climate conditions for wind power. The longstanding experience of European countries, meanwhile, offers us an environmentally responsible model.