A donation from Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy of nearly $14 million is on its way to Kincardine.

The $13.6 million will be directed to the municipality as part of the Armow Wind Project Community Benefit Program. A $1 million portion will also go directly to the Kincardine Airport.

Samsung and Pattern are about to begin construction on 92 turbines in the Kincardine area, a project that has created much division in the community.

Up until recently, the Municipality of Kincardine had been raising concerns about the safety of the project, specifically in relation to the proximity of turbines to the Kincardine Airport.

Mayor Larry Kraemer says "We appreciate that the agreement with Samsung/Pattern team respects the key considerations set out in the Memorandum of Understanding of early 2013. As our solicitor has observed, the development agreement should be regarded as "state of the art" in Ontario, and the community benefit package should be seen as a generous contribution with substantial benefit to our Municipality."

Mr. K.J. Kim, senior vice president, Samsung C & T, says, “Samsung is thankful to become part of this community in Kincardine and proud of the local jobs the project will create...Samsung is dedicated to delivering meaningful benefits to communities where we are building clean, renewable energy projects.”

Combined with the estimated property taxes to be paid by Armow Wind, the Municipality of Kincardine will receive more than $20 million during the project’s first twenty years of operation.

Upon reaching operations, Armow Wind will contribute $1.03 million to the Kincardine Airport and contribute $630,000 into the Community Benefit Reserve Fund each year for the following 20 years.

In addition, Armow Wind has agreed to the following requests of the Municipality:

  • Bury all low-voltage collector lines located on private property carrying electricity from the Project's wind turbines, where feasible
  • Create a Tree Preservation and Replacement Plan
  • Follow an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan
  • Implement a Complaint Resolution Process
  • Turbines will not be located within the Kincardine Airport Vicinity or within 3,000 metres of the Primary and Secondary Urban Communities of Kincardine, Tiverton and the Lake Shore

The Armow wind farm recently survived an appeal to the Environmental Review Tribunal. Opponents of the turbines have yet to comment on the community benefit program.