Bathurst withdraws from Anse-Bleue wind farm project

A planned wind farm in the Bathurst, N.B., area was struck a major blow on Monday.

City council withdrew an applicationfor funding for the Chaleur Ventus Energy Project planned forAnse-Bleue, about 56 kilometres northwest of Bathurst.

At a special meeting of council the city said it no longer the thought the project would be profitable.

The city was the majority partner in a group aiming to build five windmills on the site.

The project has been controversial for people living in the small community since it was announced.

Resident Patrick Thriault told Radio-Canada that 85 per cent of the community signed a petition against the wind farm, which was then submitted to Bathurst city council.

The city is a partner with Fredericton-based Naveco Power and NB Power.

If built,the farm was expected to generate enough electricity to power 9,000 homes.