Members of the Delia Village Council are cautiously optimistic about a new green energy project proposed for the Hand Hills.
Suncor is hoping to build a massive wind farm amid the Hand Hills and held an open house on August 15 to educate residents and get feedback.
“There have been three outfits interested in building a wind farm south of Delia. This is the second outfit we’ve had in town doing open houses saying they are going to build a wind farm,” said Councillor and Deputy Mayor Jeff Collins. “There is a certain amount of cynicism, because this is the third company to take a run at it and we haven’t seen anything.”
Suncor took over the dream of building a wind farm near Delia after Nexxen stepped down from the project and Joss Wind Energy Ltd. could no longer continue.
Council is hopeful the project could help breathe new life into Delia.
“It appears it should be a good project for the Hand Hills. I just hope it will be a good swing for the village,” said Mayor John Rogers.
“We’re all looking at the same thing, we’re asking what this will do for Delia. We’re going to be the closest concentration of people and we’re a little village. We have no idea if this is going to be a good or bad thing for the future of the village. I was talking to folks at Suncor and I was basically saying we could make this a turning point for Delia,” said Collins.
The plan at the moment for Suncor is to start construction on 51 turbines in the Hand Hills as early as 2014, with operations commencing in 2015. It is hoped construction and maintenance will result in jobs in Delia.
“Anything built in this area should help out with employment,” said Mayor Rogers.
“I would love to see a Suncor office or mustering point downtown in the village. I would love to have the boss for the wind farm living in Delia. I think it’s a no-brainer. If we have any trouble it would be nice to go to a guy who sends his kids to our school,” said Collins. “Suncor has been fairly straight forward in saying if there are jobs, they’ll be jobs in this area.”
However, the project is not without criticism. Collins highlighted concerns such as bird depopulation, noise pollution, decreasing property values, and how turbines can affect the health of those living close to them. Some also view the presence of the turbines in the Hand Hills as visual pollution.
However, the land the turbines are proposed to go on is held privately.
“It’s a small price to pay for the potential economic development of the village,” said Collins.
This was the second public meeting held by Suncor. On May 2 of this year, Suncor hosted their first open house so residents could learn about the project.
Suncor is currently working with stakeholders to finalize the project details. The next step during the fall and winter will be to get municipal zoning and development permits.
For Collins, the project is a must for Delia.
“I’m an unabashed supporter of this. I think we’ve got to do something, otherwise we won’t be around in ten years," said Collins. "We’ve got to take control of our destiny."
Above, a proposed map of the area shows where the Suncor Hand Hills project is planning to be constructed. Suncor held an open house on August 15 in Delia to inform residents what the project entailed. Delia Village Council members, who were in attendance, are hopeful the project will result in jobs in Delia.
