Wind turbines still a concern for some on Bluewater council
VARNA – Proposed regulations for wind turbines in Ontario continue to be of concern to some who sit on Municipality of Bluewater council.
The Ontario government’s Green Energy Act (GEA), which aims to promote renewable energy projects but may do so by overruling municipal bylaws, was again a matter of discussion at Bluewater’s May 19 council meeting.
Hay West Coun. Bill MacDougall raised the issue, saying he had seen a report on a local TV station about a visually-impaired boy from Seaforth who he said was affected by wind turbines.
“I’m becoming more and more concerned on these wind turbines,” MacDougall said during the council meeting. “They seem to be unproven when it comes to the effects from the vibration, noise, visual impact.”
He said the province is “pushing (Bluewater) into a corner where we have little or no say on allowing these structures to come into our municipality.”
MacDougall said he thinks council should be “more aware and concerned” about potential negative aspects of wind turbines, though Mayor Bill Dowson pointed out there is little scientific data about such issues.
MacDougall suggested the matter be put on the agenda for council’s next meeting (June 1), and that comments be forwarded to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
MacDougall initially suggested the discussion should centre on potential health effects of wind turbines but later conceded he’s not sure there is adequate information on health issues to debate the matter.
Bayfield Coun. Tyler Hessel said he thinks the discussion should focus on the GEA itself, noting some on council are unhappy because the GEA is expected to overrule a Bluewater bylaw governing the distances wind turbines must be set back from various landmarks.
Hessel indicated he is against wind turbines for esthetic reasons, saying, “we have a very beautiful part of the world in which we live, and we’re turning into much more of a western tourism part of the world.
“You don’t see them trying to throw them up in the Muskokas.”
Council passed a motion committing itself to a discussion on the wind turbine issue at its June 1 meeting.
By Ben Forrest
27 May 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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