Wind Concerns Ontario provides a strong, unified voice of opposition to the unchecked rush to locate over six hundred forty massive industrial wind turbines across the province in the last 5 years without the benefit of full environmental assessment. Plans to locate thousands more at an accelerated schedule, with even less oversight are tearing apart the very fabric of rural Ontario. Along with their transformers, transmission lines, overhead distribution wires and substations these industrial wind turbines threaten people and the environment in serene, historic, rural communities, on prime agricultural land, migratory bird paths, close to sensitive wetlands, designated wildlife areas and pristine shorelines.

Wind Concerns Ontario is in favour of environmentally sound solutions to our energy demands and environmental challenges. However hundreds of published reports from scientists, engineers, physicians and environmentalists refute misleading claims by wind power developers that industrial wind technology will be either effective or harmless.

Wind Concerns Ontario is committed to informing the people of Ontario as to the whole truth about industrial wind power.

MEMBERS TO DATE:
Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County
Amaranth Group
Bruce Highlands Concerned Citizens
Bruce Area Wind Action Group
Chatham-Kent Wind Action Group
Coalition to Protect Amherst Island
Coalition of Residents –Tiny
Dawn-Euphemia Action Group
Dufferin Wind Action
Essex County Wind Action Group
Friends of Arran Lake
Grey Highlands Wind Action Group
Innisfil Windwatchers
Melancthon Group
Middlesex Wind Action group
MVWF
Oxford Wind Action Group
Preserve Grey Highlands
SOS Renfrew County
Skydive Toronto Inc.
Vestige Group
Wolfe Island Residents for the Environment

For more information contact:
Beth Harrington
Media Relations
Wind Concerns Ontario
beth.harrington@sympatico.ca
w. 416 481-6424
c. 647 588-8647

St. Joseph Wind Energy Project (File: 5353.00)

A Proposal for the St. Joseph Wind Energy Project has been filed by St. Joseph Wind Farm Inc. for the construction and operation of a 300 megawatt (MW of net electrical generation capacity) commercial wind energy facility. BowArk Energy Ltd. is acting on behalf of St. Joseph Wind Farm Inc. as the primary developer for the Project. The Project area overlaps the Rural Municipalities of Rhineland and Montcalm in the vicinity of the town of St. Joseph approximately 85 km south of Winnipeg. Up to 200 wind turbine generators are proposed to be installed over an area of approximately 215 sq. km of land. An Environmental Impact Study Report has been filed in support of the Environment Act Proposal. Construction is tentatively targeted to begin in 2009, with operation anticipated to commence in 2011.

Anyone likely to be affected by the above operation and who wishes to make a representation either for or against the proposal should contact the Department, in writing or by e-mail (bryan.blunt@gov.mb.ca), not later than September 12, 2008. Further information is available from the Public Registries located at 123 Main St. (Union Station) Main Floor, Winnipeg; the Millennium Public Library, 4th Floor, 251 Donal St., Winnipeg; the Manitoba Eco-Network, 3rd Floor, 303 Portage Ave., Winnipeg; and the South Central Regional Library, 514 Stephen St., Morden; or by contacting Bryan Blunt, Environment Officer at [204] 945-7085.

Information submitted in response to this proposal is considered public information and will be made available to the proponent and placed on the public registry established in accordance with Section 17 of the Environment Act.

Environmental Assessment and Licensing Branch
Manitoba Conservation
123 Main Street, Suite 160
Winnipeg, MB R3C 1A5
Toll Free: 1-900-282-8069, ext. 7085
Fax: (204) 945-5229
www.gov.mg.ca/conservation/eal

Controversy over the Wolfe Island Wind Project centres on the location of a handful of the 86-wind turbines that Canadian Renewable Energy Corporation hopes to build on the island later this year.

The northwest part of Wolfe Island contains designated Important Bird Areas and important natural areas. Expert evidence commissioned by members of the community and supported by some government agencies raised concerns that the wind turbines would destroy rare, critical habitat. With more than 80% of Lake Ontario’s wetlands gone and bird habitat disappearing, the loss of these natural areas could be devastating.

For the last year, Waterkeeper, Wolfe Island Residents for the Environment, and other individuals have attempted to improve the wind project by identifying the locations where turbines could be built such that Wolfe Island’s natural heritage is protected.

We requested a bump up to a full Environmental Assessment of the proposed Wind Project. Or, at the very least, we sought mediation to address environmental concerns. Ingoring these request, the Ministry of the Environment went ahead and approved the CREC’s self-assessment of the Project. In response, Waterkeeper and others appealed to the Ministry of the Environment. Just before the decision-making deadline, Environment Minister John Gerretsen recused himself and the Minster of Tourism denied the appeal.

The Minister of Tourism’s decision arrived before Waterkeeper was provided with notice of the conflict-of-interest.

This week on Living At the Barricades, Waterkeeper talks about the province’s approval for the Wolfe Island Wind Project and the remaining regulatory process — the federal environmental assessment process that is in its early stages.

Listen to this week’s show online (right-click to download).

waterkeeper.ca

Or click here for mp4 version (7.4 MB).

Daniel and Carolyn d’Entremont, who had to abandon their home in Pubnico Point, Nova Scotia, because of health problems caused by nearby wind turbines, are selling this design on T-shirts, buttons, stickers, etc.

Contact them through their web site, dangerwind.org, where you can also read about their experience.

Also saw a tower section being delivered the other day near that Eagle project. It had 4 ‘flag’ vehicles, plus the giant truck the section was on. Ed figured out, at that rate, it took 40 vehicles to get each complete turbine to its site. Then those 40 vehicles had to return to their starting point …

Giving the County of Essex a Collective Voice

In a meeting held February 12, 2007 the “Essex County Wind Action Group” (ECWAG) was born.

ECWAG is a non profit, voluntary group of concerned citizens who support the research and development of viable, sustainable, renewable energy resources.

It has only been in recent years that large-scale Industrial wind turbines have been constructed so close to residential areas and sensitive wildlife areas. Our intent is to ensure that residents are aware of these proposals and have the opportunity to see the limitations and consequences of industrial wind power. We believe that the residents have a right to know all of the facts on these proposals and be actively involved in the planning from the early stages.

Developers are not likely to reveal the negative aspects of a project while trying to sell you on it, but research shows an abundance of evidence that there are clearly some serious problems with locating these large industrial wind turbines in close proximity to homes, schools and sensitive wildlife areas.

There have been no comprehensive studies commissioned in all of Canada to determine safe setbacks for industrial wind turbines. Our prime issue is that the Federal and Provincial Governments have failed to properly regulate this growing industry. You will not find a wind turbine currently being erected anywhere in Europe closer than 1000m to a house, and some parts of California have mandated two mile setbacks.

The desire to reduce fossil fuel emissions is commendable, but it can compel otherwise sensible people to support wind initiatives at any cost, in any location, and without any investigation into potential consequences. It must be examined whether the elusive benefits of large-scale wind energy development are enough to justify putting migratory flyways at risk and further destruction of rural communities and our natural environment.

We are firmly committed to the pursuit of our mission through responsible action and reliance on credible research activities. Our strongest commitment is to the protection of the best interests of our community and its residents in the context of wind power development decisions within the County of Essex.

Essex County Wind Action Group
PO Box 420
Essex, Ontario
N8M 2Y4

Website: www.ecwag.org
Contact: info@ecwag.org

Legal Council: Arthur Barat, QC, of Barat, Farlam, & Milson, Windsor, ON