Seven Stars Energy Project

Seven Stars Energy Project Q&A

What will be the economic impact to the community and/or to the province?

Enbridge is committed to the communities where we operate. The Project will provide tax revenue to the local area, which will be determined by the size of the Project. We estimate a 200-megawatt wind project with startup in 2027 would contribute approximately $800,000 annually combined for the RM of Weyburn, RM of Griffin and to provincial education taxes, beginning in 2028. This estimate is based on current Saskatchewan tax policies, procedures and legislation and is subject to change.

In addition, Enbridge provides community funding in all the areas where we have existing wind and solar assets, and other energy infrastructure. Enbridge will provide funding from the Seven Stars Energy Project once construction has started.

There will also be local economic opportunities during construction of the wind Project, and more limited full-time opportunities once the Project has entered operation.

Are there any impacts from wind turbines when it comes to electromagnetic fields?

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are present wherever electricity flows. Sources include: transmission lines, distribution lines, household appliances, power tools, office equipment, computers and any other electrical devices. EMFs also occur naturally on earth. Electric fields are created by voltage applied to electrical conductors, and magnetic fields are created by the flow of electricity (the current). The strength of EMF diminishes with distance from the source. Health Canada has reviewed EMF studies and concluded that EMF at extremely low frequencies, less than 300 Hz, do not cause any long-term adverse health effects.

Due to the nature of EMF decreasing with distance generally the largest exposure of EMF that an individual will receive is from the wiring and appliances in their own home.

Is ultrasonic sound emitted from turbines dangerous or unhealthy for nearby people and livestock?

Ultrasonic sounds are sounds that humans cannot hear and are generally perceptible only to species such as bats, with ultrasonic hearing. Some people install ultrasonic sound emitters in their homes as rodent deterrents and researchers in the United States are studying use of ultrasonic sounds as a means of deterring bats from nearing operating wind turbines, including potential installation of additional ultrasonic sound emitters along the tower toward the ground.

People and animals without ultrasonic hearing will not be impacted by ultrasonic sounds that may be made by the turbine.

What are the health concerns around noise and shadow flicker¹ associated with living in an area that has a wind project?

We have used setback distances from residences to mitigate noise and shadow flicker potential effects. Typically, two people can carry on a conversation at normal voice levels even while standing directly below a turbine on a very windy day. Millions of people around the world live and work near wind farms without issue, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory² found that 92% of people living within five miles of a wind turbine reported positive or neutral experiences.

Concerns about wind power sometimes reference shadow flicker or noise. Dozens of peer-reviewed studies conducted around the world have consistently found no evidence that wind farms cause any negative physical health effects.³ Shadow flicker is predictable, harmless, and passes quickly. It is based on the sun’s angle, turbine location, and the distance to an observer; it can be avoided by several methods.

Will the cost of decommissioning be up to the landowner or community?

No. It is the project owner’s responsibility to decommission and reclaim the facility. Enbridge has already decommissioned and reclaimed the SunBridge wind facility in Saskatchewan, which was located near Gull Lake. Enbridge’s long history in southern Saskatchewan demonstrates that we’re a solid company, around for the long term, and that we honour our commitments to the community.

What are the benefits of wind energy?

Wind energy is a widely available, affordable and reliable electric generation method for significantly reducing air pollution. After three to six months of operation, a wind turbine can effectively offset all emissions from its construction, which means it can operate virtually carbon-free for the rest of its 30 year lifetime.⁴

 

¹ Shadow flicker can occur at certain times of the year when the sun passes behind a turbine’s moving blades, casting a shadow over a window. Shadow flicker will be modelled and considered through the layout design process for the Project.
² Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) was founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams. Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 16 Nobel Prizes. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
³ Knopper LD, Ollson CA, McCallum LC, Whitfield Aslund ML, Berger RG, Souweine K and McDaniel M (2014) Wind turbines and human health. Front. Public Health 2:63. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00063
⁴ https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/energy-and-the-environment/carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-electricity