Grouse Mountain has cleared one of the last hurdles to erect a massive wind turbine near the top of the Peak Chair.

District of North Vancouver voted 4-3 to approve a development permit for a wind turbine which stretches more than 100 metres high at the tip of its blades. Despite some last minute opposition from residents, the majority of council backed the project.

“Not all alternative energy is going to be some remote dam in the wilderness – sometimes it’s in your face,” said Coun. Mike Little who voted in favour of a permit for the resort. “That doesn’t mean it’s not the way to go.”

Coun. Alan Nixon voted against the permit because he doesn’t believe the motivation for the project is rooted in the environment.

“I think this has got less to do with saving energy than about a giant billboard in the sky for Grouse Mountain,” said Nixon.

Grouse president Stuart McLaughlin responded that the resort already has a much bigger marketing tool than a turbine.

“The Cut ski run is the biggest billboard for Vancouver and our ski industry,” he quipped. “I think you’ll be hard pressed to see (the turbine) from downtown.”

The resort expects to complete construction of the turbine in November 2009. Once completed it’s expected to provide up to 20 per cent of the resort’s energy needs.

The turbine will also include a viewing platform which will offer a new vista over Vancouver.

Nixon said the project could also have grave effects on local birds and bats.

In August, Calgary researchers discovered that hundreds of bats were being killed each year by wind turbines. The researchers concluded that a drop in pressure behind the turbine blades causes the animals’ lungs to explode.

“There is evidence that these things are causing mortality among bats,” said Nixon. “Just that picture in my mind (of exploding lungs) is really what had a huge bearing on it.”

McLaughlin said Grouse plans to hire two experts to monitor how bats and birds are affected by the new turbine. Grouse has already studied local fauna and discovered seven species of bats in the vicinity.

“We’ll be doing studies,” he said. “We’ll be sharing that data not only with the district ... but also with others doing studies on both these issues.”

Although Grouse will save energy, McLaughlin said it will take nine to 13 years to recoup cost of the turbine through energy savings.

But he said the goal of the project was not necessarily economic.

“There are many other things in which we can invest our funds,” McLaughlin said. “This was definitely about taking responsibility for our own energy needs.”

Coun. Little said he hopes that approving the wind turbine project will open the door to future alternate energy opportunities.

“I think this is a positive thing for our community,” said Little. “They’re doing it to be an inspiration to other businesses to develop other ways to provide energy.”

-sneufeld@northshoreoutlook.com