Helicopter lift of blades to Grouse Mountain windmill delayed
Last Updated: Friday, July 3, 2009 | 2:11 PM PT
CBC News
Construction work on a windmill as tall as a 20-storey building on the peak of Grouse Mountain was halted Friday because of safety concerns about lifting the massive blades.
A Skycrane helicopter was expected to lift the three 37-metre-long blades up to the mountain ski resort from a barge in Indian Arm on Friday morning, but the lift was postponed after the pilot asked more time to work out some technical details.
The plan now is to fly the blades up at the end of next week, while the three section of the 65-metre tower will be transported up the mountain by road.
When the tower is eventually erected near the ski lift station at the top of the peak, it will house an elevator that will take visitors up to an observation deck just below the turbine, the first of its kind in the world.
Staff expect the observation deck will open in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics in February. The mountain resort already has several tourist attractions designed to draw visitors throughout the year.
Project manager Julia Kossowki says the wind turbine is also part of Grouse Mountain's plan to be an environmental leader.
"Our goal is to become a carbon neutral resort and also inspire Vancouver and the rest of the world to take on more responsibility in an environmental way. So this iconic wind turbine is intended to inspire, educate, exhilarate. We're going to have an educational program inside the wind turbine or in the future at the base," said Kossowki.
The turbine, which will be Canada's largest, is expected to generate enough energy to power 240 homes, or about 20 per cent of the mountain's overall consumption.
Concerns raised about wildlife and view
But despite the green offset, not everyone is on side with the project. The turbine plan met with some resistance at the District of North Vancouver council where it was narrowly approved by a 4-3 vote.
Coun. Lisa Muri voted no, because of her concerns it will impact wildlife, particularly birds that might be hit by the massive blades.
Muri said she plans to keep a close eye on the operation and its impacts now that project is going ahead.
Some Vancouverites have also express concerns about the visual impact of the large windmill, but staff at the ski hill say it will be appear smaller than a toothpick to viewers in Vancouver.
