The Grouse Mountain wind turbine was originally expected to open to the public in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics in February. (Grouse Mountain Resort)

Construction of the giant wind turbine on Grouse Mountain north of Vancouver may be finished, but BC Hydro says it is not yet ready to give approval for the resort to bring it online.

The 65-metre turbine is expected to produce up to 25 per cent of the ski resort's annual power when it is eventually switched on, but BC Hydro spokesman Dag Sharman says the turbine does not yet meet all its safety requirements.

Sharman said BC Hydro is concerned about the impact the turbine could have once it's hooked-up to the provincial electricity grid.

"The system that they are proposing is not the same that is required by all customers who have generators of that size on our system, and it's required for safety reasons and reliability reasons," he said.

But Grouse Mountain spokesman Chris Dagenais said BC Hydro is being inflexible with its rules, and thinks the utility company should take a second look at the technology the mountain has used.

"It's very frustrating because we've spent years on this project and we've spent all kinds of time and money to get it to a point where it could be generating electricity," said Dagenais.

The turbine, called the Eye of the Wind, overlooks Vancouver from its perch on top of the North Shore Mountains and is equipped with an internal elevator and an observation pod for tourists. The resort initially expected it would be up and running in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics in February.