Prince George, B.C. – Eight of the first B.C. wind turbines hitched a ride today on CN Rail as they travel North to the Dokie Wind Farm, 40 kilometers northwest of Chetwynd.

 

Each turbine holds three 45-metre blades (similar to photo shown at right) . It takes  two flatbed cars to carry  a blade. The wind turbines are capable of generating up to 144 megawatts of power. 

 

The train carrying the  turbines was to  move through P.G this afternoon, but delays mean that train won't  come through till sometime tonight.

  

Earthfirst Canada Inc has plans to install the first eight by this fall with the goal of 48 turbines to be up and running by fall 2009. The cost of the project is $360 million which has increased from its original estimated cost of $325 million. The increase was mainly due to higher than anticipated tendered pricing, which resulted from increased natural gas exploration affecting labor and commodity costs.

 

The project has full environmental certification and a 20 year 144 MW power purchase agreement with BC Hydro which was awarded in summer 2006.

 

The Dokie Ridge is located adjacent to the Bennet Dam, BC Hydro's largest hydro electric facility.