Auditor to look at cost of cancelling Ontario wind farm

Ontario's auditor general says she will examine thecosts associated with a government decision to cancel a wind farm near Cornwall, Ont., over concerns about the local bat population.

Environment Minister Jeff Yurek revoked the Nation Rise Wind Farm project's approval late last year.

• Bat concerns prompt province to cancel North Stormont wind farm

Nation Rise has launched a legal challenge of the governmentdecisionand is asking the Ontario divisional court to set it aside.

The NDP says it's concerned the cancellation could cost taxpayershundreds of millions of dollars, given a recent revelation the province is spending $231 million to cancel more than 750 renewable energy contracts.

• NDP questions reason for cancelling eastern Ontario wind farm

NDP energy critic Peter Tabuns wrote to the auditor general torequest that she review the cancellation costs, which the government has not disclosed.

Auditor general Bonnie Lysyk responded this week to say herannual audit of the province's financial statements will include examining those costs.

But for a full, special investigation, a request has to come froma cabinet minister, the legislative assembly or a legislative committee.

As it has previously, the environment minister's office said Thursday it would be inappropriate to comment while the company's legal challenge is underway.