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TORONTO- New rules forcing wind farms to keep their giant turbines at least half a kilometre from the nearest building will not affect a proposed local wind project, according to the firm behind it.
Luke Geleynse, vice-president with Kemptville-based Prowind Canada Inc. says a wind farm planned for the North Gower area had always intended to put its 8-10 turbines (which stand 120 metres tall) at least 550 metres from the nearest house.
On Tuesday, the McGuinty government suggested that distance will be the new minimum buffer between turbines and homes. Louder and larger windfarms could face setbacks of up to 1.5 kilometres.
"From Day 1, we've been counting on these setbacks," Geleynse said, scoffing at predictions the new setback will stop some wind projects. "I don't think this is going to affect much of the wind development in Ontario."
The proposed new regulations also set 40 decibels as the target noise level at the nearest dwelling. That should sound like a quiet office or library, according to officials.
"To exceed 40 decibels means you're placing too many turbines too close to buildings," says Geleynse.
York University professor Mark Winfield, an energy expert, says the large buffers could put affect wind projects in southern Ontario.
"It clearly complicates the deployment," he says. "It means the locations these things can go into will be restricted."
The proposed regulations fill in some blanks in the Green Energy Act, legislation aimed at boosting Ontario's renewable energy production.
The proposed wind farm in North Gower would produce 20 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 6,000 homes.
But some local residents are concerned about the possible side effects caused by low frequency noise emitted from the turbines. They say a study shows those sounds - imperceptible to the human ear - may cause epilepsy, depression and other disorders.
It is a concern echoed by other community groups and is vigorously disputed by the wind industry.
Environment Minister John Gerretsen says the new setbacks, which increase the minimum buffer by 100 metres, are designed to deal with those concerns.
"Our position on that is that at 40 decibels we feel that the health and safety of people with respect to low frequency noise has been addressed," he said in an interview. "So that's what we're going with."
Prowind is leasing a four kilometre by eight kilometre swathe of farmland from "six or seven" farmers for the North Gower project, Geleynse says.
The farmers, who will continue to till the land, will be paid a percentage of the electricity generated by the turbines.
The North Gower wind farm is still undergoing a provincial environmental assessment. Once complete, the public can comment before the province makes a final decision on approval.
The public can comment on the proposed setbacks on Monday in Ottawa at the Tudor Hall on North Bowesville Road between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
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