News
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General and Canada
Ontario cabinet ministers told to smooth out wind turbine conflict
May 15, 2013 by John Spears in Toronto Star
May 15, 2013 by John Spears in Toronto Star
Four Ontario cabinet ministers have been given the job of devising ways to give local residents more say in where renewable energy projects like wind farms can be located.
It's a politically urgent task for the Liberals, who were almost wiped out in rural Ontario in the last election.
Island dentist chooses against treating First Nations and municipal councillors voting for wind turbines
May 8, 2013 by Michael Erskine in Manitoulin Expositor
May 8, 2013 by Michael Erskine in Manitoulin Expositor
Councillor Jerry Ense noted that his family has been going to Dr. Studzienny for 20 years. He called the dentist and asked if it was all community members that the dentist was refusing to deal with. "He said, ‘No, no, only councillors. If you are a councillor I don't want you as a patient'," said Mr. Ense.
Insurance industry wary of covering farms with turbines after Collingwood court ruling
May 3, 2013 in Sarnia Lambton Independent
May 3, 2013 in Sarnia Lambton Independent
The insurance industry, which does not have uniform policies on liability insurance for farms with industrial turbines, is closely watching the situation. "As more and more turbines go up and more and more liability suits are presented, you will be able to tell the appetite of the insurance companies, whether they will cover farms (with turbines)."
Gillespie updated last week's events and noted nine experts have testified for the PECFN. Gillespie said the ERT panel has accepted their presentations on the serious and irreversible harm of turbines to bats, birds, butterflies, turtles and the environment as "expert testimony" while noting a few of Gilead Power's witnesses have "limited expertise" and the Ministry of Environment's presentation "experienced" in reviewing reports.
A residents group has appealed last month's decision by the Municipality of the District of Chester to grant the wind farm a development agreement.
Members of the Friends of South Canoe Lake are concerned about the setback distances of turbines and their potential effects on residents' health and property values.
"Be it resolved that Norfolk County council applauds the position taken by the Premier and the Government, and that, based on the position of Norfolk County council and the input received from the community regarding (industrial wind turbines), the Province of Ontario - and specifically the Ministry of Environment - be now advised that Norfolk County is not a 'willing host' for industrial wind turbine projects."
Wind project on Sable Island over budget and at a standstill 13 years later
April 18, 2013 by Aly Thomson in Ottawa Citizen
April 18, 2013 by Aly Thomson in Ottawa Citizen
Parks Canada says it's conducting a technical assessment of the power grid to determine the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to generating energy on the 40-kilometre island.
Julie Tompa, project manager for the Sable Island National Park Reserve, said it's possible the turbines could be scrapped, depending on the results of that assessment.
Activists want N.S. to yank approval for wind farm plan
April 9, 2013 by Joann Alberstat in Chronicle Herald
April 9, 2013 by Joann Alberstat in Chronicle Herald
The energy minister should withdraw his approval of a Halifax County wind farm because the project doesn't have enough local support, says a Terence Bay group.
The Friends of River Road was formed last summer in opposition to a six-megawatt wind farm Chebucto Terence Bay Wind Field Inc. proposed in partnership with Renewable Energy Services Ltd.
Company sites economic reasons for wind farm project cancellation
April 1, 2013 by Mark Hoult in Northumberland Today
April 1, 2013 by Mark Hoult in Northumberland Today
The cancellation of the three projects "gives hope to other communities in rural Ontario, almost all of whom are not willing hosts for industrial wind turbines," she said. "I do believe that the discontinuation of the these three projects is a major victory in the ongoing war against industrial wind turbines in rural Ontario."
Thompson said the focus should be on meeting the service needs of all Ontario residents and on protecting the most-affected rural residents, environment and family heritage in the immediate impact area.
"The news is filled with stories about those opposed to wind turbines and those supporting them. It's a never-ending war of opposing forces in many rural communities.''
Thompson said the wars are tearing the rural social fabric to shreds.
Wynne said the Ontario government is committed to protect the health of Ontarians and building a clean energy future. ...The two-page letter states the province will ensure communities are consulted about the green energy products and is working to provide increased local control in the energy projects.
It appeared to be a divided house at a Lunenburg County public hearing Monday night into a wind farm that, if approved, would be the province's largest.
Judge reserves decision on bid for injunction to stop K2 wind project
March 1, 2013 by Heather Boa in The Bullet News
March 1, 2013 by Heather Boa in The Bullet News
Shawn and Trisha Drennan have a reasonable fear that their health will be harmed by 12 industrial wind turbines proposed to be built within two kilometres of their home just north of Goderich, argued lawyer Julian Falconer in superior court today.
Chantelle Bryson is accusing Horizon Wind Inc. of using bully tactics in an attempt to force its application to build a wind farm on the Nor'Wester mountain range forward. ... Toronto-based company accused the province of delaying the renewal energy application approval process.
Clarington mayor wary about promise on wind farm input
February 23, 2013 by Jennifer O'Meara in Durham Region
February 23, 2013 by Jennifer O'Meara in Durham Region
"The issue is these things are being imposed on a community. If they give us the power to do the same thing, I'm not sure it's anything different... Nothing changes," said Mayor Foster. "We get a little bit nervous when the Province says 'OK, you do it.' Do we jump out of the frying pan and into the fire?"
Wind farm opponents are calling for a moratorium on further developments after a number of setbacks for the industry.
The Federal Magistrates Court ruled earlier this month that wind farms decreased the value of adjacent properties – something that opponents had long argued about with the South Australian Government.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Scale model makes case for anti-turbine crowd
February 8, 2013 by Dan Dakin in St. Catharines Standard
February 8, 2013 by Dan Dakin in St. Catharines Standard
If VanRyn's model is as accurate as he said it is, the No To Wind group has a dramatic new tool it can use to try to change the minds of people who support building wind turbines in this community.
Beausejour Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc said it is becoming clear the federal government has fumbled the entire wind turbine program.
"It seems to me the government botched the procurement process if they spend over $2 million on a wind turbine that doesn't work," he said.
"The littlest things we can do to delay this project, the closer we are to shutting it down."
Brooks said the group checked after Nextera announced its Forest public meeting and found Kimball Hall hadn't been booked.
"So, we booked it," she said.
Despite throwing out a sweetener - a promise of more than $8 million in local benefits for Snowy Ridge and Settlers Landing wind projects - Sprott Power got the same chilly reception from hundreds of people who attended the meeting.
The company has promised to form a community liaison committee prior to construction, to improve community relations and so locals can be informed.