Town Council

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Saugeen Shores Town Council unanimously agreed to the proposed new setbacks of 1,000 meters as opposed to the 550 meter setback established by the Province.

Eric Monrad of Leader Resources Services said that this effectively puts a moratorium on wind turbines in Saugeen Shores.   According to Monrad the proposed setbacks are quite restrictive and the 1,000 meter setback from a receptor (existing house or land where one could be built) makes development prohibitive.

 "There is no place to put a turbine that is not outside the 1,000 meter setback so this, in essence, eliminates any turbine development in the municipality    We have a lot of experience with wind technology and, as a local company, would like to work with the municipality."

Deputy Mayor, Luke Charbonneau, said that the gap between the town's policy and that of Leader Resources is that, "... you [Leader] are looking at building as many [turbines] as you can and everywhere you want while we are looking at protecting human health."

Charbonneau added that the present setbacks established by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) is based on a number.  "We have not seen any clear evidence that human health is safe at the 550 meters, therefore, we are trying to establish criteria to protect that human health.  The MOE are just now beginning to do a study with the University of Waterloo on the impacts of wind turbines.  It is  expected to be completed in 2016 and, presumably, the Ministry would not undertake such a study if it did feel there was a need."

Monrad was aware of the $1.5 million study and explained the professor involved in it also said that there should be a moratorium while the study is going on.

Vice Deputy Mayor Gowanlock said, that after reading a variety of materials on the subject, every time a study/review is done the setback distances increase.  "I prefer to err on the side of being conservative with setbacks increasing to more than 550 meters."

In the end, Council voted to go ahead with the 1,000 meter setbacks.

Les Kemper speaks out about Council's decision as Heather Boa of Leader Resources looks on

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011