Re:  Wind Power Faces Gathering Storm (Jan 2):  Rural residents deserve a great deal of respect for their efforts regarding this flawed provincial policy.  Since 2002, Ontario wind developers have barged into our communities with a “robber baron” attitude.  Some have not complied with existing local and provincial requirements.

Lack of policy direction from the province has created regulatory chaos. Public consultation is minimal and manipulated at best, and many “proponent-driven” (and self-scrutinized) environmental assessments are fraught with outdated and unsubstantiated “data”.

The associated environmental and health impacts are real.  Rural residents will not be persuaded to “do their part” knowing that corporate marketing and provincial promotion overstates the benefits of this power source and plays down the negative impacts.  Until developers site these projects in more appropriate areas and earn, not demand respect, they will continue to face costly delays and opposition.