I’m not sure why Montreal needs windmills given the enormous hydro electric resources in Quebec that already churn out some of the best sustainable energy in the world, but why not? It’s only taxpayer money, right?

Via: Montreal Gazette

St. Laurent will be getting one of the island’s first wind turbines, its whirling blades making enough power to light up a public sculpture and paths in one of the borough’s parks.

The borough council this month approved the $37,000 installation of the turbine at Philippe Laheurte Park.

“This is one illustration of our sustainable development plan,” said borough mayor Alan DeSousa.

A Laval company, Enseignes Valois, will install the 30-foot turbine in a wooded area in the park, which is on Ernest Hemingway Ave., west of Cavendish Blvd.

The turbine is expected to provide the borough with about 800 watts of lighting power. The park’s pedestrian and bike paths will be lit using energy from the turbine, DeSousa said.

Energy created by the turning blades will be stored in batteries which have a capacity of seven hours.