First turbines spinning at Burchill Wind Energy project in Saint John - Action News
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New Brunswick

First turbines spinning at Burchill Wind Energy project in Saint John

A starkillustration of the changing nature of New Brunswick'senergy supplyis on displayleaving Saint John on Highway 1 heading for the U.S. A horizon that for years has been dominated by Coleson Cove's twin smokestacks is now crowded with the spinning propellers of wind turbines.

Neqotkuk First Nation's investment in green energy 'way of the future,' says Chief Ross Perley

Aerial view of a wind turbine
One of the 10 turbines in the Burchill Wind Energy Project about 15 kilometres from the centre of Saint John. (Roger Cosman/CBC)

A starkillustration of the changing nature of New Brunswick'senergy supplyis on displayleaving Saint John on Highway 1heading for the U.S.

A horizon that for years has been dominated by Coleson Cove's twin smokestacks is now crowded with the spinning propellers of wind turbines.

While N.B. Power's smokeless stacks remain ready toburn fossil fuel when needed, it's the waving arms of nearly a dozen windmills that symbolize a greener future, compliments of a hefty investment by Neqotkuk First Nation in Tobique,in northwestern N.B.

NeqotkukChief Ross Perley beams with prideabout his community'swork inSaint John.

"It just goes to show," he told CBC News."Green energy projects are going to start taking over, and they're going to dominate and that's the way of the future."

Chief Perley smiles at the screen in a Zoom call
Neqotkuk First Nation Chief Ross Perley is very proud of his community's investment in green energy. (Roger Cosman/CBC News)

Neqotkuk has teamed up with Nova Scotia-based renewable energy specialists Natural Forces and Saint John Energy for the wind project.

With a $49-million investment in Burchill Wind Energy, the community expects to reap a $100-million windfall over the project's 25-year lifetime. That's money, known as own-source revenue, that Neqotkukintends to put to good use, according to Perley.

"We use the own-source revenue to fund projects in the community that aren't funded from federal or provincial dollars, such as our elders' programs and our youth and recreation programs."

The turbines sit on Crown land about 15 kilometresfrom the centre of Saint John, land the residents of Neqotkuk consider the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Wolastoqey.

While some of the turbines are spinning now, only five are currently operational. All 10 are scheduled to be online by the end of May, according to Saint John Energy.

With all ten operating, Burchill can produce 42 megawatts of power.That's about 15 per cent of the energy needed to keep the lights on and businesses humming in New Brunswick's most industrial city.

Landscape view of the Burchill Energy Wind Project
The Burchill Energy Wind project in Saint John is getting up to speed as the first turbines come online. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)

There are 10turbines, each standing more than 200 metres tall. At 70 metres in length, the variable-pitch blades can slow down or speed up depending on the wind intensity. Each turbine is capable or producing 4.2 megawatts of power on a good day.

The hub can rotate into the wind for maximum efficiencyor away from the wind to avoid storm-driven gusts that could damage the blades.

WATCH | People were so curious about this wind farm, the road had to be closed:

A greener skyline: A wind farm outside Saint John marks an industrial shift

1 year ago
Duration 3:11
The turbines at the Lorneville site will be able to generate about 15 per cent of Saint John's energy needs.

And what are the risks of those windmills tumbling to the ground? Thathappenedin 2021 at TransAlta's Kent Hillswind farm near Moncton.

TransAlta blamed deficiencies in the design of the foundations, but Saint John Energy engineer Andrew Ahearn said there's little risk of that here.

Andrew Ahearn wears construction helmet and stands in front of wind turbines.
Saint John Energy engineer Andrew Ahearn says he thinks utilities such as N.B. Power are accepting the need for green energy. (Roger Cosman/CBC News)

"You can't believe the amount of rebar that's inside those bases. If you look over there, there's some rock anchor bolts that are sticking out. They're basically embedded several metres into the bedrock, which will help hold it into place. I think there's over 200 anchor bolts securing the tower to the foundation."

Aside from changing the skyline of Coleson Cove, the project hasalso changedthe sightlinesof many Saint John residents. Saint John Energy has had to raise transmission wiresto carry the power created by the Burchill wind turbines to two of the city's newly rebuilt substations.

The Burchill Wind Energy project won't displace Coleson Cove as an energy source.The oil-burning plant will continue as a backup source for N.B. Power.But Ahearn makes it clear that could change.

Aerial view of Coleson Cove generating station sign.
N.B. Power's Coleson Cove will not be displaced by the wind project, as the oil-burning plant will continue as a backup source for the utility. (Roger Cosman/CBC)

"Ultimately,Coleson Cove is a requirement we need for the base load. But I think you can see now there's kind of a shift towardthe future and understanding how we can move to a renewable and non-emitting way of producing power, and I think N.B. Power is going tobe on board with that."

This isn't Neqotkuk's only green investment. It also has a majority interest in a $50-million Natural Forces project in Penobsquis, near Sussex. The wind energy produced by six turbines there will be sold to N.B. Power, generating $3 million a year in revenue for the First Nation.

Ultimately though, the revenue stream takes second place to anothermore fundamental concern for Neqotkuk. Natural Forces estimates the Burchill project will remove more than 43,000 tonnes a year in CO2 emissions, equivalent to taking 13,000 cars off the road.

"For us, it's taking part in and doing our contribution to reduce carbon emissions and combat global warming," said Perley.

"It's part of our heritage to make sure that we look out for the next generations and leaving the earth as healthy as it can be. And this is one step in that direction."

Clarifications

  • An earlier version of this story indicated eight turbines are now online. However, only four are up to speed, others are expected online by mid-May, and 10 will be generating power by the end of May.
    Apr 27, 2023 12:17 PM AT

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