A plan to build a five wind turbine facility northeast of Arthur could be moving closer to reality as Wellington North Council firms up new regulations governing the new technology.

The Arthur Wind Farm Project is proposed by Schneider Power Inc. on a 350-acre parcel of farmland known as New Obelink Farms. Company President and CEO Tom Schneider attended a public meeting at council Monday evening to talk about the status of the plan.

Schneider Power, according to Mr. Schneider, has done the necessary studies required by the provincial Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and has fine-tuned some of those plans as a township draft of regulations has been considered.

"We have completed our development work for this project, environment work and other studies," Mr. Schneider said told council. Among the studies required are a noise assessment, review of any impact the turbines will have on the natural environment, soil testing, visual impact, including shadow flickering on neighboring properties, and setbacks from neighboring lands and roadways. Mr. Schneider said the wind turbines are expected to arrive in early spring with the facility expected to be operating late next year.

The plan involves the erection of five, 120 meter high wind turbine generators that will be hooked into existing power lines. The company has secured a sales agreement for the power it generates from the site with the Ontario Power Authority. The draft regulations being considered by council include minimum setbacks of turbines from on-site sensitive land use (300 meters), off-site sensitive land use and vacant property (450 meters), urban centers and wetlands (1,000 meters), woodlands and watercourses (30 meters and separation from livestock facilities (200 meters). The same regulations would address decommissioning, maximum height of turbines, signage and protection of the environment during construction.

If adopted the regulations would put turbine facilities in an Agriculture-Wind Zone, a designation, according to township planner Mark Van Patter, that would recognize the co-existence of two different land uses. The Schneider plan, according to its president would only result in the loss of about four per cent of the agricultural land use on the property.

"All the aspects of the draft guidelines have been addressed by us," Mr. Schneider said. The project would also create jobs, he added, referring to trades needed to put up the towers and 24-hour maintenance when they are operating.

Resident and environmentalist John Northcote has concerns about the draft regulations. He acknowledged the Schneider project is not large, but wants council to ensure its regulations are stricter. His main concern was setbacks and the impact inadequate separation from a turbine facility could have on neighboring properties. The same setbacks, according to him, should apply to areas of public access such as trails. Mr. Northcote said the regulations should address public safety should an accident occur with a turbine, such as ice coming off a blade and striking a person.

"My concern is this bylaw, which is a first, addresses all the problems," Mr. Northcote said. Mayor Mike Broomhead said preparing the draft of regulations has been a long process, but one council wanted to move slowly on to address all concerns. "We slowed the process down and we came under a lot of criticism but now we're getting accolades," the mayor said.

"I honestly do feel the Schneider group has treated us well. Hopefully we're putting together a document (guidelines) and development we can all be proud of." The regulations will continue to be reviewed.