Decision still blowing in the wind
The Township of Madawaska Valley will not make any decision on the construction of wind turbines until the public has been fully consulted.
Last month, the township’s council toured wind power generator projects in the Ontario municipalities of Melancthon (Shelburne), Huron-Kinloss (Ripley) and Kincardine.
SkyPower, a Toronto-based company developing renewable energy projects across Canada and the United States, is proposing to build six massive turbines in the hills north of Wilno. However, Madawaska Valley chief administrative officer Pat Pilgrim said council has not even looked at any plans for the so-called Wilno Wind Project. So far, the firm has not asked for an official plan amendment or zoning bylaw change.
“We have had no formal application,” said Ms. Pilgrim. “We are awaiting that.”
During the trip, councillors and staff met with their municipal counterparts, developers, landowners and businessmen, to become more informed on wind power.
“We want to know what issues we are going to face,” added Ms. Pilgrim.
Council is stressing that ratepayers will be informed through a series of public meetings and will be asked for input. While the office has fielded some concerns from residents, the citizens group SOS (Save Our Skyline) submitted a 400-signature petition at council’s regular meeting Monday night. SOS president Lou Eyamie called on council to block any wind turbine initiatives. The petition also demanded council impose a freeze on turbines similar to the Township of South Algonquin, which passed a 10-year moratorium in October. He questioned why council did not meet with opponents of wind power in those municipalities.
Mayor John Hildebrandt told Mr. Eyamie that council is looking hard at the installation of wind turbines adding the decision will be reached in “a very public process.”
Ms. Pilgrim noted that SkyPower has not purchased any property in the area for proposed wind turbine sites.
By Sean Chase
Staff Writer
7 November 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
- Time to talk turbines
- MV Council acknowledges concerns over wind farms; But opponents seek moratorium on approval of any turbines
- Turbine dispute raises temperature
- Wind farm debate picking up again
- Township puts one-year moratorium on turbines; issue will go to referendum
- County unlikely to halt wind farms
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