Wolfe Island Wind Farm Economic Analysis

Economic analysis of the Wolfe Island Wind Farm in Ontario, examining its initial costs, revenue streams, and distribution among the developer, municipality, and landowners. It highlights the financial risks, including cost overruns and lower-than-projected generation, and addresses significant environmental challenges, particularly high bird and bat mortality within an Important Bird Area. A major focus is the critical issue of decommissioning costs and the lack of a dedicated funding mechanism, posing a future liability. The text contrasts the project's private profitability with its potential negative net economic impact on the province when considering broader system costs and offers recommendations for future wind-on-farmland projects to improve economic benefits, mitigate risks, and enhance social and environmental outcomes.