Second Source sets up parks first wind turbines

Business parks in Burnside and Woodside are the first in the province to have wind turbines up and running.

The 50-kilowatt Atlantic Orient Canada (AOC) 1550 wind turbines help power the Fielding Avenue and Orion Court facilities of Maritime Demolition. Exact figures arent available, but generally these turbines cost in excess of $200,000 each.

Sandy Hines, vice president of Second Source, says the turbine at Orion Court, perched atop an 80-foot lattice tower, was connected to the grid and spinning by the end of February. At Fielding Avenue, the company is waiting for weather conditions to improve before they pour the concrete and install the turbine on a 100-foot lattice tower. Hines hopes it will be up and running by the end of March.

With todays power rates and in a good wind condition, each turbine will generate at least $1,500 a month worth of electricity, Hines says. Both areas are reasonably good, but are in industrial areas with obstructions, which is why weve gone the height we have. The one in Woodside has a reasonably good, clear wind flow from the Harbour and winds predominantly from that direction will ensure the turbine spins freely and generates electricity. We also have a few more obstructions in Burnside, thats why were going the extra 20-feet.

Hines says its difficult to give exact figures on potential savings unless youve done a test of the exact location, but in a good year with good wind the turbines are able to offset electrical costs considerably.

The manufacturer of the AOC 1550 says with 100 per cent wind availability the turbine could put out 228,000 kilowatts per year in an average wind speed of eight metres per second, or 17.9 miles per hour.

Most concerns about wind turbines have to do with noise. But the business parks ambient noise will drown out the noise of the turbine during the day, Hines says, and wont bother anyone at night.

I think other businesses and like-minded people will endeavour to pursue something like this too, once they see them up and running, Hines says.

Ross Rhyno, president of Maritime Demolition, started with wind turbines by installing a 10-kilowatt turbine at his home in Cow Bay.

Hines says, He discovered that wind is a really significant way to show exactly how environmentally conscious his business is. He dismantles buildings and instead of putting everything into the landfill, he takes everything thats salvageable and resells it to the public for re-use. Hes destroying buildings in a very green way. This move with the wind turbines is just an extension of his business model and how environmentally conscious his business is.

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