Wind Turbine Raised On Ex Grounds

Installation of the turbine structure, which stands on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds near the bandshell, began earlier this month. A 65-metre tower will be assembled on a concrete base poured in June. The turbine's generator, rotor and blades will then be added.

When completed, the turbine will stand 91 metres tall, with three 24-metre-long blades. Its rotor will spin approximately 27 times a minute and generate 1,400 megawatt hours of electricity a year.

"Every time that blade goes around, it will mean one or two lumps of coal won't have to be burned down the road at the Lakeview generating station," said Jack Layton, a city councillor and alternative-energy advocate.

The wind turbine -- the first in North America to be built in an urban setting-- is co-owned by Toronto Hydro and Windshare, a co-operative community organization that first proposed a turbine for Toronto five years ago.

It is the 10th wind turbine in Ontario. Joyce McClean, the director of Environmental Affairs for Toronto Hydro, noted that Ontario lags behind other governments in employing wind power.

"What we generate is 40 per cent less than Prince Edward Island and represents only three per cent of Quebec's capacity," McClean said.

She also noted that wind power generates 17 per cent of Denmark's energy. In Germany, 14 million people receive their electricity from wind generators.

"I think that Ontario has had a bit of an addiction to coal power and other forms of polluting power generation," said Bryan Young, the general manager of Windshare.

The federal government contributed $330,000 toward the turbine's $1.3-million price tag, with the co-owners splitting the remaining cost.

Windshare generated funds through a co-operative stock offering, in which 450 companies and individuals invested between $500 and $10,000.

The co-op is planning to construct a second wind turbine near Ashbridge's Bay next year.

"This has been a long road for all of us, but what has been particularly gratifying is the extent to which Torontonians have demonstrated that they care about cleaner air and that they are prepared to be part of a community-based model for green-powered investment," Young said.

Lagerwey, a Dutch firm, built the turbine, while Tri-Service Metal, of Ajax, constructed its support tower.

McClean disputed claims that the turbine will be harmful to Toronto's bird population. She noted that at existing wind farms, fewer than two birds collide with a turbine each year. In contrast, Canadian communications towers kill 1,000 birds a year, she said.

Once its installation is completed, the turbine will undergo a month of testing before it becomes operational in late January.