The Winds Of Change: How Will The Saskatchewan Government's New Wind Energy Siting Location Guidelines Impact Wind Energy Developers?

On September 19, 2016, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment refused to approve the development of a proposed wind energy project near the Village of Chaplin, Saskatchewan (the "Chaplin Project"). Environmental concerns – predominantly the concern that the proposed location was too close to a migratory bird flight path – led to the Ministry's refusal of the environmental permit for the Chaplin Project.

The Chaplin Project was Saskatchewan's first Environmental Impact Assessment (as defined in the Environmental Assessment Act) for a utility-scale IPP wind energy project in Saskatchewan. Not coincidentally, the same day as the Chaplin Project permit was refused, the Wildlife Siting Guidelines for Saskatchewan Wind Energy Projects were released (the "Siting Guidelines").