Wind is a daily feature in our area on most days of the year. Today, strong northerly winds are causing havoc on the roads as blowing snow reduces visibility. Yesterday we spent several hours in downtown Toronto. A brisk wind blew off Lake Ontario and was funneled between the skyscrapers, making for a very cold walk.
This wind turbine was inspired by a group of Toronto residents who had a dream of cleaner energy and cleaner air. Their vision came alive through a joint venture partnership of Toronto Hydro Energy Services and the WindShare Co-operative, who jointly constructed the wind turbine on December 18, 2002. The turbine is a good example of how communities can work together to meet their electricity needs and address global issues of air pollution and climate change.
This is the first wind turbine erected in the City of Toronto and the first in a downtown urban setting in North America. It stands thirty stories tall and has the capacity to power up to 250 homes. Electricity from the wind yields no emissions, no waste, and is 100% green.The 750 kW turbine has displaced 815 tonnes of CO2 emissions since it was commissioned and generated 2,864,768 kWhrs.
There were many hurdles to overcome as this project was in the planning stages. Resistance was present from many detractors who felt it was an eyesore, was dangerous to shore birds, was too noisy, “not in my backyard”, etcetera, etcetera...
We do have knowledge and the technology to move ahead with many initiatives that would reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. On a windy day like this, I wonder why there are not more wind turbines on the horizon?
My "baby" is 21 years old today! She says she feels old, but what about me?!
To this day she recalls events and time with an accuracy that amazes me. She has an artistic gift and translates her feelings and observations into her work.
In the elevator lobby of one of the floors, a large model railway is set up. A few volunteer enthusiasts run the trains every Wednesday. Four separately run miniature trains lines operate between local communities, each represented with replicas of stations, factories, bridges and landscapes that are familiar to our residents. At lunch time today, I stopped by for a visit and was given a detailed tour of the set.
Here is the bridge over the river and on the hill is a model of the original hospital built around the time of the First World War. As I was taking this picture, the gentleman in charge wanted to show me how the signal lights worked when the train passed by. He reversed the train that had recently travelled the track and made sure I took another shot. The little signal lights and warning bells were activated as promised.
Many hours of work have been put into this model over the years, but I was told that the trains would likely be stopping in the near future. The engines were getting old and the local shops that carried model trains and accessories had all closed up. Younger people have little passion for this type of hobby as rail travel has lost the romance and appeal it had in years gone by. Personal vehicles, buses, airplanes and transport trucks have replaced the essential role that railways had in North American history. Only one small passenger train passes through our local station each morning en route to Toronto. CN Railway just ended a strike that lasted for two weeks. Most of us would never have noticed except that it exacerbated a fuel shortage at our gas pumps caused by a fire at a local oil refinery.
