Public voices concern about windfarm; Gilead Power Corp. wants to erect 12 turbines in Prince Edward County
Skeptics in the crowd scanned visuals of wind farms proposed for Prince Edward County on display last night and said the only thing green about them is the money the proponent stands to make.
Others came to a public meeting at the Crystal Palace eager to learn more about a growing industry they believe can benefit the environment.
Gilead Power Corp. unveiled more details of its plans to erect up to 12 turbines in an area west of Ostrander Point Road.
Gilead is one of several companies exploring the county for wind turbine potential.
Carrying Place residents France and Bob Lacroix said they came to the open house to learn more about wind energy because they hope to install a turbine at their own home one day.
“We should take advantage of all the wind in this area,” said France.
Meanwhile, Point Traverse-area resident Carol Christie and her husband were taking in the visuals with skepticism.
“We’re very much in favour of wind turbines if they’re in the right place, but whether they’re in the right place here is questionable,” she said, explaining the turbines’ proximity to Lake Ontario has her concerned about bird populations and pollution leaking into the water.
Still, she said she was glad to have an opportunity to express her opinion at an open house and hear about environmental assessments that are about to be done.
Others believed the company was exaggerating how beneficial turbines are to the environment and to the local economy.
“It’s very slick,” said Milford area resident John Easton, who expressed fear that the turbines will lower real estate values.
“The only thing green about this is the money [the company is] making.”
Gilead president Paul Pede said that the company is happy to get feedback of any kind as it moves ahead with plans for the 20-megawatt project.
At the open house, a followup to one held last December, guests were asked to write comments and put them in a suggestion box.
Each, Pede said, would be reviewed and sent to the two agencies, who then forward the comments to other agencies who contribute to the environmental assessment process.
It’s all done to ensure concerns on everything from the turbines’ impact on bird populations, to their noise, to how they will affect the skyline are addressed before the project can move ahead.
Pede believes the process should move smoothly, because the project is much smaller than most others proposed in the county.
“We’re not looking to overrun the county with turbines, as some of our competitors are,” he said.
“That’s why we chose a sparsely populated area of the county.”
The turbines are slated for Crown land, meaning the company will have to lease the land from the province and, thus, contribute to the tax base.
The company also says it will contribute to the municipal tax base and bring more jobs to the area.
If all goes as planned, Pede said construction will begin in late 2009 and the project will begin generating power in mid 2010.
- Belleville Intelligencer
By Stephen Petrick
Osprey News Network
29 August 2008
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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