Sitansisk First Nation, Quebec company partner in wind farm proposal

Carleton County is getting another wind farm proposal, this time with involvement from a First Nation.

Sitansisk, also known as St. Mary's First Nation, is partnering with Eolectric, a wind energy company, to propose a 50-megawatt farm near Florenceville-Bristol.

A notice from the Municipality of Carleton North, the proposed location of the project, said Sitansisk and Eolectric will host a public meeting, in an open house format, on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Amsterdam Inn in Florenceville-Bristol.

But residents will head into the meeting knowing little about the project, as stakeholders have been tight-lipped about plans for the development.

CBC News requested an interview with Sitansisk economic development officer Patrick Brooks but he declined, citing the need to finalize details with partners before speaking publicly.

Sitansisk Chief Allan Polchies was unavailable for comment, but spokesperson David Bardwell sent a statement that said information on technical details and a project timeline will be presented at the public meeting in Florcenceville and at an additional meeting for members of the Sitansisk community. 

"At present, the details are being worked out with our partners and we request patience regarding information for the media on this file to ensure we meet with our partners, community members, and other stakeholders to ensure all goals and objectives can be met," Bardwell said in the statement.

Eolectric, based in Brossard, Que., did not respond to several requests for comment on the project. Its website describes it as a private renewable energy company that's existed since 1994. It also lists seven existing wind projects Eolectric has built in Quebec, as well as one in Alberta and one in Mexico. 

Mayor interested to hear more  

Carleton North Mayor Andrew Harvey said the project "is in its infancy stages," and he's looking forward to learning more at the public meeting.

The site is north of Glassville, Harvey said, and would connect to the substation in Beechwood, which is just upriver from Bath.

Harvey said he's a big believer in clean, renewable energy that benefits the local economy, and he's is excited to see more projects in the region.

"We have a lot of wind capacity here with our mountain ranges," he said.

N.B. Power spokesperson Dominique Couture did not make anyone available for an interview on the project. In an emailed statement, she said the utility put out a request for expressions of interest for wind, solar and tidal project proposals.

Couture did not provide any details of the Sitansisk-Eolectric proposal and did not say whether N.B. Power had received any formal proposals yet.

This latest wind farm proposal comes just months after J.D. Irving held a public meeting to announce plans for a large wind farm on Brighton Mountain, near Juniper.

The JDI project, which is still in the approval stage, would produce seven times as much electricity as the Sitansisk-Eolectric proposal.