Municipality of Barrington selling off wind turbine

The Municipality of the District of Barrington is looking to sell, or lease, a wind turbine it's operated for nearly a decade.

The rural Shelburne County municipality recently issued a request for proposals for the sale of the 50-kilowatt turbine and its land, which is near Highway 103 and close to a construction and debris landfill.

The 42-metre tower was originally built in 2015 by Endurance Wind Power, but the company went out of business in 2016. The municipality has run the turbine since then.

Warden Shaun Hatfield said the tower has brought in between $10,000 and $28,000 in revenue for the municipality each year, but it is time to move on.

"We have found over the years that it hasn't necessarily been cost-effective for us," Hatfield said Monday.

"With the company that installed it no longer being there, it's been a bit challenging to be able to maintain it. And of course, you know, our business is not the maintenance of an asset like that."

Managing turbine has been 'learning experience'

Hatfield said he's hopeful other businesses that specialize in wind power can take over the tower and keep sustainable energy flowing into the power grid.

The municipality is still optimistic about wind energy in the area, Hatfield said, and the process of owning and operating its own turbine has been a "learning experience."

"I'm sure it's still a valuable asset to somebody whose business would be, you know, taking that over and making it into a viable enterprise for themselves," Hatfield said.

Barrington's tender states that any bids must include a detailed operating plan for how a company would maintain and operate the turbine effectively.

It should also describe any benefits to the local community, like job creation or environmental stewardship projects.

The municipality is accepting offers until April 11.