THUNDER BAY — A multlnational company looking to develop a wind farm near Thunder Bay has identified at least one potential location north of the city.
EDF Renewables, owned by a France-based company, has erected a tall mast with equipment to measure wind speed on private property in Gorham Township.
The company revealed last year it was in the early stages of exploring a few sites in Gorham and neighbouring Jacques Township for a potential wind farm that would likely consist of 35 to 40 turbines.
A mast supported by guy-wires has now been installed off the Pike Lake Road near Lottit Lake, however it's not clear whether the company is examining any other locations.
Newswatch reached out to EDF for an update on the project but has not yet received a response.
Mark Gallagher, director of development/grid-scale power, stated last October "We are open to hearing from anyone who has lands that they believe might be suitable for development...If there is sufficient interest, we sign lands up to an option to lease, then we erect a mast and monitor wind speeds for at least a year, undertake community engagement and environmental studies, etc."
Gallagher said if EDF found a suitable site, it's unlikely it would be online before 2030, as "The project would have to go through all provincial, federal and local approvals, which would likely take two years or more."
The Greenwich wind farm in the Dorion area was completed in 2011.
Owned by Enbridge and RES Canada, it has 43 turbines.
