Expert opinion

The city is seeking an expert opinion on the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park.

City development manager Mark Smith said that as more information is being received by Horizon Wind Inc., the city needs an expert to help them assess the information.

"Specifically information relating to the financial consequences of moving the turbine locations from those locations that Horizon has proposed," Smith said. "It’s now that we’re going to be receiving the detailed financial information we hope from Horizon."

That information includes proposed locations, financial information and view shed, Smith added.

With help from the consultant, Smith said administration hopes to recommend locations to council by Oct. 4.

"What council does with that I can’t say," Smith said. "We need to understand the consequences of recommending that turbines be located where they’re currently being proposed."

Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee co-chair Mike Payne said they’ve been asking the city for months to hire an outside expert. Payne said the hire is good news.

"Administration has admitted that they do not have the experience to look into this kind of thing. They don’t have that kind of background so we’re quite happy to hear that," Payne said.

However, tbnewswatch.com has learned that a confidential memo to city council from administration recommends that the city agree in principle with 10 turbine locations and the location of an 11th if it is moved farther away from the Loch Lomond Ski Area.

A city official who could not be named said the memo was for information purposes only and that recommendations could change dramatically before Oct. 4.