Wind Power Coming to Campbell River Area?

De Clarke/Cortes Currents - Company seeks permission to locate wind farm north of Campbell River.

Capstone Infrastructure Corporation, an independent and publicly traded power generating company headquartered in Toronto, has applied to SRD for permitting and approval for a new project on Vancouver Island. The "Brewster Wind Project" would install about 30 wind turbines on a site about 40 km northwest of Campbell River.  The proposed site is on some ridges between highways 28 and 19 -- more specifically, between the White River and the Memekay River, spanning a range from west of the Memekay Horse Camp to north and east of Memekay Peak.

Capstone is submitting their proposal in response to the 2024 BC Hydro Call For Power.  Hydro is soliciting bids with the goal of acquiring about 3000 GWhrs per year of new clean or renewable electricity to serve the region.  Capstone’s project, when completed, would produce about 200 MW; they anticipate a 30 year operational lifetime.  If everything were to go smoothly, they anticipate a successful environmental impact report by 2028 and completion by 2031;  so this project will not be popping up overnight.

Capstone requested that SRD post the relevant information in public, and also ask and also asked for advice on a list of stakeholders who should be consulted.    SRD responded by advising that Capstone should consult with the BC Speleological Federation, the Canadian Cave Conservancy, the BC Paleontological Alliance, and the Royal BC Museum Palaeontology Department.