What follows is a letter from Lucy Shaw representing NaiKun Wind Energy [ http://www.naikun.ca/] published in the November 30th, 2007 edition of the Queen Charlotte Islands Observer [ http://www.qciobserver.com/]. Presently Haida Gwaii's electric power is generated by burning diesel and by harnessing the energy of falling water at Mitchell Inlet on the West Coast of Moresby Island. The main concerns at this point are the effect that the wind towers may have on seabird populations and on the lucrative Hecate Strait dungeness crab fishery.

Editor, Sir;
The NaiKun wind project continues to generate a lot of interest on Haida Gwaii. However, some of the recent attention has contained inaccuracies about the project, the people involved, the environmental impact assessment process and wind energy in general. We would like to clear up some misconceptions and reiterate our commitment to community accountability and transparency.

NaiKun wind energy is a BC company with local people working to build one of the first offshore wind projects in North America. The winds off the coast of Haida Gwaii are some of the strongest and most consistent in Canada and can provide inexhaustible, clean and reliable energy. The NaiKun wind project would produce 320 MW, enough electricity for 120,000 homes-including all of Haida Gwaii.

The Haida Nation, federal and provincial governments are independently reviewing the on-going Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and have defined several areas that must be studied to assess potential impacts the project's construction, operation or decommissioning may have on benthic (bottom) plants and animals, fish, marine mammals and birds. Potential impacts to social, recreational and commercial activities including commercial fisheries and fishing grounds and tourism, are also assessed in the EIA process.

While the exact configuration and location of each wind turbine is still unknown, we do know that they will be spaced as much as 1 kilometer apart. In Europe, this has meant that recreational boats can drive through the wind site freely and large commercial fishing boats can fish within the wind park.

There are several comprehensive environmental studies on offshore wind energy in Europe where wind projects have been operational for the past fifteen years. A recently completed Danish study found that seabirds tend to fly around offshore turbines that have been properly sited and habitat loss for birds is negligible.The studies also found that wind projects are relatively small compared to overall migratory routes of birds and concluded "even big wind farms pose low risks to birds, mammals and fish."

It is important to remember a known and very real threat to migratory birds and habitat loss as noted in the 2006 World Wildlife Fund report, is global warming. The primary cause of global warming: burning fossil fuels, like the diesel burned on Haida Gwaii for electricity and energy demand. Transitioning to clean energy sources, like wind, is one step in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and will help in the fight against global warming.

The NaiKun project will also bring new jobs to Haida Gwaii. During construction there will be over 300 positions that will need to be filled ranging from general trades to electrical engineers. There will also be permanent full time maintenance positions available once the project is operational. NaiKun will make every effort to fill those positions locally and will continue to work with local suppliers like, the Haida Dive Team, South Moresby Air, Haida Fisheries and local biologists and archaeologists.

We invite anyone seeking more information, research and facts to drop by the Haida Gwaii Energy Centre in Masset. In the New Year, NaiKun will be hosting additional information sessions on the project and wind energy. We will keep you informed on any project updates and look forward to seeing you soon!

Lucy Shaw
NaiKun Wind Energy
Vancouver