Canada wind industry grows amid opposition storm - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Canada wind industry grows amid opposition storm
Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:40PM EDT

By Jonathan Spicer

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's fledgling wind power
industry, late off the global starting blocks, has stumbled
on growing local resistance to the idea of massive turbines
dotting the country's relatively unmarked landscape.

Although polls show widespread support for the renewable
energy source, a growing number of companies say that
support quickly fades among those who must live alongside
wind farms, leading to project delays and extra costs.

"There are many opportunities for small, anti-wind groups
to delay a project," said Debbie Boukydis, spokeswoman for
Enbridge Inc, which had to delay building what will be the
country's second-biggest wind farm by more than a year.

-snip-

Delays are common around the world but acute in a
country that is less familiar with wind farms.

-snip-

Despite rising opposition, the tiny industry has recently
exploded in Canada, doubling in size in 2006 alone.
Canada has 1,588 megawatts of installed wind capacity,
accounting for about 0.5 percent of its total electricity
supply.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN3145479320070831