Virtual Engagement Sessions on Land Areas of Interest for Wind Energy Projects Launching Next Week

The Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology is currently reviewing the recently submitted Nominations of Areas of Interest for wind energy projects in the Province. Next week, the department will host a series of virtual sessions with respect to those land areas of interest being considered for a future call for competitive land bids, starting in December 2022.

This input will be used to inform decisions about lands that may be made available for a competitive bid process for onshore wind development projects, and to help ensure the development of the province’s wind resources is undertaken in a responsible, timely, sustainable, and competitive manner. 

It is important to note that this engagement activity is incremental to further engagement that will be required as part of existing processes such as Environmental Assessment review, should development be proposed in a particular area.

The department invites stakeholder groups to the following virtual engagement sessions regarding two Land Areas of Interest for Wind Energy Projects: 

• Monday, November 14, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 15, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. -1:30 p.m.

The intent of this engagement process is for the Provincial Government to:

• Meet with representatives from the selected areas to provide an overview of the Crown land nomination process;
• Inform the community that the area, selected through the recent call for Crown land nominations for onshore wind energy projects, may be offered as part of a competitive bid process; and
• To determine the level of support for further consideration.

An online questionnaire soliciting feedback will be made available at the link below immediately following the first information session.

For more information on these public engagement sessions, visit www.engageNL.ca. 

The department received 31 land nomination submissions for wind energy projects. Through a detailed assessment, the Provincial Government will determine which land package(s) will be made available for this first round of the competitive land bid process. The process is expected to be launched on December 15, 2022. More information on the competitive land bid process will be available in the coming weeks.

“These engagement sessions are part of our fair, transparent and competitive approach to ensuring the province’s wind energy resources are developed in a responsible manner and provide the greatest long-term benefit to residents of our province,” said Honorable Andrew Parsons Minister of Industry, Energy, and Technology.