A renewable energy developer is eying the Town of Minto as a possible location for a future wind farm or solar energy project.

“It’s not a plan; it’s just saying, is it even possible?” Prowind Renewables vice-president Helmut Schneider told members of council at this week’s meeting.

Schneider appeared as a delegation to council, saying the company was looking for input from council and guidance on community engagement before exploring project opportunities in more detail.

“The renewable energy project only makes sense if it’s approached carefully, openly and with local input right from the beginning,” he said.

As his reason for exploring the possibility of renewable energy projects in Minto, Schneider said the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – a Crown corporation responsible for managing the power system in Canada – has stated that there is new energy needed.

Approaching town council and staff early in the process gives the municipality a chance to help shape the discussion before landowners get involved, and before the design stage, he said.

“Our goal is to understand whether there is a responsible path forward,” he said.

He provided some background on Prowind, noting the company has an office in Ontario with about five team members, and a larger staff of 200 team members working in Germany.

The company is also working with other Ontario municipalities, and also has an existing wind farm in Oxford County with 10 turbines, Schneider said.

“We believe we’re experienced enough to deliver, but local enough to listen,” he said.

He described the Oxford County wind farm as “the only community-participation wind farm in Canada,” with 49 per cent of the project belonging to the community and returning dividends to those who are invested in the project.

It was built about 10 years ago, and employed about 200 people during the construction phase, he said.

The company also set aside money for a community project, contributing to the creation of a new trail in Oxford County, he said.

He emphasized that any project that might happen in Minto would be “completely voluntary” for landowners and for the municipality.

In terms of possible locations for a project, Schneider said the company is looking at lands identified as secondary agricultural lands within the Official Plan.

“We want to stay as much as possible away from any prime agricultural land,” he said.

He also said there is an old landfill site in Palmerston that could potentially host a solar project, noting the company had done that in Woodstock.

“It’s just a possibility,” he said.

But it is a long process before any project would be able to proceed, said Schneider.

“From where we are right now into construction is usually a three-to-four-year process,” he said. “We’re here for the long game, and that’s what we want to present to council.”

Schneider said in order for the company to participate in the procurement process, it needs to have municipal support.

Questions from council ranged from how to deal with opposition to potential locations, to the size and type of project that might be considered.

Mayor Dave Turton asked whether the company’s focus would be more wind or solar, and the answer was “both.”

But Schneider also pointed out that a 20 megawatt wind farm needs about 18 acres, whereas to produce the same amount of energy in solar would require about 200 acres.

Councillor Ron Elliott said past attempts to put up wind turbines have been met with “a lot of negativity,” with people raising concerns about human health and bird deaths.

Schneider said the company has put together a document of common questions, with responses including peer-reviewed science, and identifying proven myths, but he also acknowledged there are some concerns – like not liking the looks of wind turbines – that can’t be allayed.

“If you don’t like it, then I can’t convince you to like it,” he said.

Councillor Judy Dirksen raised another practical question.

“My understanding was we didn’t have enough wind,” she said.

“You are right, it’s not the greatest wind,” said Schneider, but he said the potential wind speed is “feasible.”

He said more detailed measurements have not yet been done, but would be part of the process should a project move to that stage.

Asked what size of a project the company might be considering, Schneider said maybe eight to 12 megawatts of solar, and potentially 10 wind turbines of seven-megawatt each capacity.

He proposed returning to council in the coming months to make a second presentation after council has had time to think about the possibilities.

“You need to see how we work and how we work with the municipality before you want to make a support resolution,” he said. “The next step would be another presentation.”