OUR MAIN source of energy for the 21st Century will be wind, says Greg Allen, course instructor in Yorks' Faculty of Environmental Studies. Right now little of Ontario's electricity is generated by breeze power, but that could soon change if Allen and York graduates Bryan Young [MES '98], Deb Doncaster [MES '99] and Ben Stevenson [BES '00], who have formed the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC), build Ontario's first commercial wind turbine on the Toronto waterfront at Ashbridges Bay.

Standing 60 metres tall with three rotating blades each the length of a 747 jet wing, the clean energy machine will displace 1.4 million kilograms of carbon dioxide while generating enough power for about 250 four-person homes.

"This project," says Young, general manager of TREC, "is going to do a tremendous amount for Toronto ­ not in terms of the amount of energy that it will generate, although that's not insignificant, but this turbine and subsequent ones are going to create interest in a new industry."

Allen and Young believe the TREC wind turbine project marks the beginning of a huge wind-power industry for Ontario. Young adds that not only will people finally be able to green power, but the turbine will act as a "calling card" for other businesses to get on board and exploit wind resources.

TREC admits Toronto and other cities have their wind-power limits. Some of Toronto's shorelines are blessed with strong south-westerly winds, but office towers obstruct prime sites and other areas are restricted because of air traffic.