Saskatoon wind turbine plan hits turbulence

Some people in Saskatoon's west end aren't happy about a massive wind turbine that could be built at the city's landfill.

If Saskatoon Light & Power has its way, the 120-metre tall turbine would go up southeast of the Montgomery Place neighbourhood.

At an open house Tuesday night, some people from the area said they're worried about noise and shadows from the giant whirling blades.

But Saskatoon Light & Power engineer Kevin Hudson said the city has done many studies, and people near the turbine shouldn't be bothered by it.

"People won't hear it from inside their homes," he said. "They may hear it in their backyard on their deck. They certainly won't hear it inside their homes."

The turbine would generate enough power for 470 homes. However, council hasn't signed off on the project yet.

The wind turbine is proposed as part of a Green Energy Park at the landfill that could also include two other power generating projects — one that burns methane gas from the dump and another that uses energy from expanding gas to run a generator.