Minister rejects efforts by West Hants to limit where wind turbines can be built

Council wanted more distance between turbines and private land, but minister says changes too restrictive

An effort to create more distance between wind turbines and private land in the West Hants Regional Municipality has been struck down by the provincial government in a decision that will soon guide development across Nova Scotia.

In September, West Hants regional council voted to require commercial turbines to be at least 2.5 kilometres from abutting property lines unless there is consent from the landowner to be closer. The amended bylaw, which required provincial approval, also said developments should not be visually intrusive in the landscape. 

Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr said Thursday he has rejected those amendments — calling them too restrictive — and introduced rules that will be consistent provincewide.

"We felt that as we provided this feedback to West Hants that it would also be something that would be relevant in other areas," Lohr told reporters. "We simply cannot allow a very subjective opinion about the presence or absence of a windmill to be a guiding factor in the decision whether this industry goes forward.

"These will be the minimum planning requirements going forward for all municipalities."

Smaller setbacks, visual impact cut

The province's rules base distance from homes on a minimum of four times the wind turbine height. 

Turbines already operating in two wind farms in West Hants are about 150 metres. A project currently under construction and two proposed developments plan to use 216-metre models.

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The province's amendments also account for sound levels and shadows, but the reference to visual impacts was struck out. 

The department is in the final stages of drafting changes to the minimum planning requirement for all municipalities.

'Council is disappointed' 

Abraham Zebian, the mayor of West Hants, said he "fully respects" the decision by the minister, who has final say over planning documents. Zebian conceded, however, that it wasn't the preferred outcome.

"Council is disappointed because we felt that we were making changes that reflected the vision of what our community wanted," he said.

On Tuesday, regional council voted unanimously to have staff review options that could limit height and the total number of wind turbines in the municipality. 

Jason Hart, who lives in Garlands Crossing, N.S., said he is concerned about how increasing the density of turbines could affect birds and bats and impact local weather. 

"We're just starting to become a little concerned that ... we're going to be living in an electrical generation facility, not a community with a few wind farms," he said. 

Green hydrogen project

CBC News was provided with email exchanges between provincial staff that were accessed through freedom of information legislation by members of Protect Vaughan, a citizens' group Hart is part of. 

"They were concerned about the effect [bylaw changes] would have on the Bear Lake project," he said. 

EverWind is behind the Bear Lake project. It is part of the company's plan to build hundreds of turbines across Nova Scotia to produce green hydrogen. 

Mark Stewart, the director of engagement at EverWind said in a statement Thursday they are committed to community engagement and support consistent rules across municipalities.