Old is New Again Plans are being made to turn part of the M.D. of Provost into a wind farm (see story this week's paper) and a consultant hired by Gale Force Energy, Claude Mindorff of Medicine Hat said in Czar on Wednesday night that if one was to go for a drive south of Taber, construction of giant turbines would be found. This was the scene on late Friday afternoon where giant cranes were working to erect the massive units near an abandoned farm site—and in the shadow of an old fashioned windmill, ravaged by time, with its blades long-gone. ©Provost News Photos. Print version in January 24 edition of The Provost News. Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.

Giant Wind Farm Project
Moving Ahead ‘So Far’
• Firm Commitments For Land Needed

Initial wind farm data from three test towers in the M.D. Provost No. 52 are showing promise for use with turbines to produce electricity say energy developers.

Gale Force Energy representative Gary Martens spoke to landowners and others in the Czar hall on Wednesday night and brought local people up-to-date on proposals for building one of the largest wind farms in Canada.

He was asked by The Provost News if the massive project would be going ahead. Martens, who lives in Swift Current replied “Yes, so far we haven’t found a fatal flaw.”

There could be three sites, all in the M.D.—one at Metiskow, one near Amisk and another further west towards the Battle River in the Amisk area.

A total of 150 towers could be erected worth $600 million in turbine and construction costs.

Under ideal conditions, construction might begin in four years, says Martens.

The farms would have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.

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