Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen has stepped into the controversy over a $30-million wind turbine project that threatens a rural Lakeshore airstrip owned by legendary Spitfire fighter pilot Jerry Billing.

Gerretsen has ordered wind farm developer Gengrowth to study "alternative locations for three turbines in light of the location of the airstrip in the study area."

"Gengrowth will not proceed with the project until the study I have requested has been completed and submitted to the requesters and to the ministry for review," Gerretsen says in a letter to Gengrowth.

Gengrowth was proposing to build five, 120-metre high turbines at distances ranging from 900 metres to about two kilometres west of Billing's airstrip on Lakeshore Road 211.

Gerretsen noted that Gengrowth wasn't aware of the existence of the airstrip before filing a notice of completion of studies required for the project.

Gengrowth president Paul Merkur said the minister's request for more information wasn't unusual and was being studied. He predicted it would prove difficult to relocate any of the turbines given nearby homes and a railway line.

Merkur said the company's own aviation consultant said the Billing airstrip could safely co-exist with the turbine project.

One of Canada's most famous wartime aviators and postwar test pilots, Billing built his strip just over 40 years ago and added a house later.

"All I want to do is to be left alone," said the 88-year-old Billing. He's a much-decorated pilot, shot down three times in the Second World War, and made an honorary citizen of France.

The Town of Lakeshore approved the zoning in February for the wind turbines over his objections. Mayor Tom Bain couldn't be reached Tuesday for comment.

Billing said he's hoping to get a four-kilometre buffer zone free of turbines around his airstrip, which is registered with Transport Canada.

Essex County's official plan amendment dealing with alternative energy calls for a four-kilometre buffer around airstrips registered with Transport Canada.

Billing is worried the height of the turbines will threaten aircraft attempting to land or take off from the strip.

Based on information he's received from a pilot friend in France, Billing is also worried that air turbulence created by the 42-metre-long blades of the turbines could flip small aircraft that venture too close.

Billing's son Erik, who's taken on the task of contacting government agencies, had asked the environment minister to order an individual environmental assessment for the wind turbine project.

In a letter to Billing, Gerretsen said he wasn't making a decision on the EA request until Gengrowth had done the additional research on the turbine locations.