Huron-Kinloss council

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Despite a plea from a group of homeowners to take action against wind farms, Huron-Kinloss council has decided to simply approve a resolution of support for Arran-Elderslie Township's bylaw regarding industrial wind turbine projects.

Arran-Elderslie's bylaw calls for the chief building official to issue a building permit for the construction of any wind generation facility, provided it meets the following conditions:

• A certificate issued by Health Canada confirming the wind farm will not harm the health, safety and well-being of any resident in Arran-Elderslie
• A certificate issued by the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure confirming the wind farm will not harm the health, safety and well-being of any resident in Arran-Elderslie
• A certificate issued by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment confirming that the wind farm will not harm the health, safety and well-being of any resident in Arran-Elderslie
• A certificate issued by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources confirming that the wind farm will not harm the health, safety and well-being of any resident in Arran-Elderslie
• A certificate issued by the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs confirming that the proponents of the wind farm and the Crown have carried out satisfactory, meaningful consultation with all the affected aboriginal groups
• Certificates issued by either or both the Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash, as applicable, confirming that the proponents of the wind farm have carried out satisfactory, meaningful consultation with them

Arran-Elderslie also wants certificates from all the stated ministries, with original documentation, stating that the necessary full and complete non-partisan third-party, independent health studies on humans are presented to determine safe setbacks and noise limits.

The bylaw has been approved by Arran-Elderslie and now it is asking other municipalities to approve similar bylaws.

Cheryl Murray, on behalf of a group of concerned residents, told Huron-Kinloss council Monday night (June 7) that they are worried about the impact of the proposed 150-megawatt Bluewater-Ripley wind farm.

"We're asking council to regulate similar projects and preserve the peace and tranquility of our area," she said. "I feel sorry for those people who were affected by the Ripley project (Acciona-Suncor). The installation of that project should have been done differently, so they didn't have to leave their homes."

Murray cited several studies regarding the health problems associated with wind turbines. The safest minimum distance separate from a two-megawatt turbine is two kilometres, said one study.

She said a report released by the Ontario chief medical officer of health was full of misinformation. "There is a need for more research which is not even being acknowledged," said Murray. "There are people suffering from the wind turbines nearby, but they won't speak out because they don't want to anger their neighbours (where the turbines are located)."

She wants to know why the people affected by the wind farms on adjacent properties, are not notified about them. "We'd like to be invited to participate in the meetings with the landowners," she said. "If I'm going to be impacted, I want to know what's going on."

Norma Schmidt of Underwood, a Registered Nurse who was teaching nursing students, had to quit her job because of health concerns caused by the nearby Enbridge Wind Farm.

"I loved being a nurse and I loved teaching," she said, "but I was suffering from cognitive impairment and I couldn't teach any more so I had to tender my resignation."

She had to leave her home and move to the family cottage. "All we got from Enbridge was sarcasm. We have a right to live in our home."

Schmidt suffers from severe migraines and sleep deprivation. "The government says wind farms are safe, but in the '60s we were told that Thalidomide was safe too, and it wasn't," she said. "The wind farms are making us sick and you (township) have to protect your people."

Later in the meeting, council debated the Arran-Elderslie bylaw.

"I'm disappointed that AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) declined to circulate the bylaw," said councillor Anne Eadie. "They gave Arran-Elderslie the malling list at a cost of $300. Kevin Eccles of Grey County is going to inquire why AMO refused to co-operate."

She said Grey County is bringing forward a similar bylaw.

Eadie added that a lawyer has gone over the Ontario Green Energy Act and believes Arran-Elderslie's bylaw is good and well-written.

"I'm disappointed that Bruce County did not support our original 1,250-metre setback between turbines and residential homes," said councillor Lillian Abbott.

"The county has not offered any support for Arran-Elderslie," said Eadie.

"That's regrettable," said Abbott.

"We need more research on all issues related to wind farms," said Eadie. "The safeguards for dirty electricity are not there. What's Hydro One's position on allowing dirty electricity on the grid?"

As for approving a similar bylaw to Arran-Elderslie, councillor Don Murray said all municipalities realize that if they approve such a bylaw, they will be going to court, because the province supports wind farms.

"There is a municipality facing that battle already," said chief building official Matt Farrell. "And an individual is taking the Green Energy Act to task as well."

"We need mechanisms in place if wind farm companies don't do things right," said Eadie.

Council decided not to get embroiled in the wind farm dispute right now. However, a resolution of support for Arran-Elderslie's bylaw will come forward at the council meeting June 21.

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Monday, June 07, 2010