Six walk out in turbine Working Group

Six members of the Invenergy Dutton/Dunwich Working Group have resigned, over frustrations with how the group functions,

Letters of resignation from John Bennetto, Norah Bennetto, Bert Zegers, Elaine Brown, Yvonne Brooks and Bonnie Rowe were included in the council agenda package for last week's Aug. 19 meeting.

The letters point to different reasons for the resignations.

“It has become known that my continued participation on this committee will be used as a support of the bidding process for Invenergy in the upcoming Large Renewable Projects request for proposal process,” John Bennetto wrote.

He said he was participating on this committee to voice his opposition to industrial wind turbines.

“It has become obvious that our reasoned rationale and presentations of sound arguments in opposition of industrial wind turbines will not influence or change the attitude of the proponent, Invenergy.”

The letter from Norah Bennetto is the same as John Bennetto's.

Bert Zegers pointed out that the chairman of the working group, Ryan Ralph stated he would not use the working group as propaganda for Invenergy's proposed wind turbine project.

“Invenergy has used the Community Working Group many times for propaganda for the project,” Zegers wrote in his letter of resignation.

In her letter of resignation, Elaine Brown pointed out the working group which started meeting in January, was formed as an advisory committee for Invenergy to share information on wind energy development. As he noted another stated purpose for the committee was to assist Invenergy in understanding the community's concerns regarding wind energy.

“The feeling is that Invenergy is not fully understanding the majority of Dutton/Dunwich citizens’ concerns and is accommodating a small percentage, the lease holders. The purpose of these community working group meetings seems not to be working and is just a debate session – those for and those against wind energy.”

A letter of resignation from Yvonne Brooks detailed some of the frustration resigning committee members feel.

“Each month we come to this table, our volunteer hours spent researching various aspects of industrial wind energy and its effects on the surrounding community....At each meeting, our reports have been downplayed and have even been called scare tactics.”

Bonnie Rowe's letter of resignation pointed out the perception that nothing seems to have changed for Invenergy in its plans for the Strong Breeze project.

“...Invenergy and the Erie Breeze Energy Co-Operative have repeatedly boasted publicly that the creation of the work groups allows the public to have a voice in the wind project which makes it sound as though Invenergy is considering our recommendations,” she wrote.

The resignations from the resigning members were accepted without  comment at Dutton/Dunwich council.