Vancouver’s latest eye-con

Inspiring, innovative and iconic—all eyes are on The Eye of the Wind

The Eye of the Wind could be reduced to a series of impressive numbers. It has 37-metre-long blades and parts sourced from nine different countries on four continents. Building it has resulted in a 25 per cent offset in electrical needs by Grouse Mountain Resort. There have been more than 10,000 visitors since the summer of 2010.

Yet, when you start looking beyond the statistics, it becomes clear how multifaceted this wind turbine truly is. Constructed through the summer of 2009 and finished in December 2009, it was built with the goal that it would become an icon of renewable energy as well as a place for learning about green power sources.

“Grouse Mountain has a goal to become carbon-neutral and we have several sustainability projects in place,” said William Mbaho, public relations and communications manager for Grouse Mountain Resorts Ltd. “However, The Eye of the Wind is unique, not only in the sense that it is the first (wind turbine) in the world to have an elevator that accesses a viewpod, but it’s also the first commercially viable wind turbine in the Lower Mainland.”

Though many people are familiar with wind farms, The Eye of the Wind is one of only a few wind turbines located on a mountaintop. Extensive studies were done to determine the best spot for the turbine, ensuring optimal energy production.

The process of building the turbine united both the provincial government and BC Hydro, the province’s power provider. Mbaho said that wind power is underutilized in B.C., and that there is a motion afoot to have B.C. become energy self-sufficient by 2016. Projects like The Eye of the Wind bring that goal closer to reality.

“When you look at all that went into building the turbine, this is state-of-the- art,” said Mbaho. “It’s a 1.5-megawatt turbine, and that could power up to 400 homes.”