Federal government abandons Sable Island wind project 15 years after its launch
HALIFAX — The harsh conditions and extreme isolation of Sable Island has forced Ottawa to abandon a wind project on the iconic crescent-shaped sandbar — more than 15 years after it launched the initiative.
Parks Canada said wind turbines do not meet the needs of the wind-swept Nova Scotia island, famous for the wild horses that have roamed there since the 18th century.
“The wind turbines were part of a … project to reduce Sable Island’s dependence on fossil fuels, and were chosen based on the renewable energy technology that existed at that time,” the department said in an email statement about the million-dollar, over-budget initiative.
“Since then, there have been considerable advancements in the field of renewable energy systems.”