Proposed windfarm gets thumbs down from some Alberta landowners

A hearing is underway to determine whether the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) will approve a major wind farm in Vulcan County; however some residents are opposing the project.

If approved, the Buffalo Plains Wind Farm would build 83 wind turbines on17,500 acres of privately-owned farmlandnearLomond, Alta., about 175kilometres southeast of Calgary.

Itwould be the third major green energy developmentin the area, and it's hoped it willbringmore tax revenue and jobs to area.

According to developer ABO Windlandowners will get royalties, but some residents are still not happy.

'Practically at doorstep'

Lavinia Henderson with "Lomond Opposing Wind Projects" voiced opposition at a Thursday public hearing.

She says the project will be"practically on their doorstep," referring to her family's farm.

"We've got about 26 of them on two sides,"Henderson told the Calgary EyeopenerThursday.

"They're lined up in a row on what we call a half a section, so two large parcels of land. And the third one is a little over a thousand meters away from my mom's residence."

Apart from impacting theirview,Henderson says theturbines can be loud.

"When you're used to living in a very quiet area ...you become used to that."

Theturbines in this proposed projectwill be bigger than most,reaching 200 metres into the sky. The Calgary Tower, as a reference, is 191 metres.

• Vulcan County could be home to 83 wind turbines taller than the Calgary Tower

Henderson also has other concerns, including an effect called "shadow flicker," which occurs when the sun casts a moving shadow as it shines through rotating blades.

She now hopes the group's concerns will be heard.

An ABO Wind spokesperson says they can't comment while the hearing is underway.

The Alberta Utilities Commission,however, sayssocial, economic and environmental effects are all included whenlooking at a project like this.

A decision is expected in February.