The cancellation of a 43-wind turbine project slated for the northern reaches of the county has elicited a mixed reaction from residents.

While a local farmer says the cancellation will hurt his pocketbook, opponents of the project are pleased to have one less wind farm on their horizon.

The status of the Byran Wind Project has been under fire from opponents for more than two years and has been in question since the developer, SkyPower Corp., filed for bankruptcy protection last summer. The project was subsequently taken over by Interwind.

Kristin Jenkins, speaking for the Ontario Power Authority, confirmed the Byran Wind Project contract has been terminated.

“Basically, the company is insolvent, so the contract was terminated by mutual agreement,” she said.

Forty-three turbines were to have been erected on 2,080 acres of land in the northeast sector of the municipality.

Farmer Lloyd Crowe said the project’s cancellation will not only hurt him financially, but the entire municipality, too.

“There were supposed to be four (turbines) on our property and that certainly would have been money we could use, but I think everyone will suffer to some degree,” he said.

“I really believe that tourism will suffer because of it, because I think people would have come here to see the (turbines).”

Crowe said agreements calling for annual payments ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 per turbine will be lost.

“They told me they will be removing the anemometers (wind measuring devices) from the properties shortly, so I guess that will be the end of it,” Crowe said.

Henri Garand, chairman of a local group opposed to the project, said that while members of the Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County are pleased by the cancellation, news last week of at least two other projects slated for the county is disturbing.