May 11, 2012
Ontario

Powassan wind project not yet off the ground

By GORD YOUNG, The Nugget, www.nugget.ca 10 May 2012

A proposed wind project in the Powassan area is still in the data collection stage, according to its developer.

“The proposed project is in the early stages of development,” Rob Parsons, president of Anemos Energy Corp., said in an e-mail last week.

He said the company has development rights on private property on Maple Hill Road and that a preliminary environmental analysis has indicated no significant issues.

“The wind resource is being measured, but data collected to date indicates that a project would be viable,” said Parsons.

Parsons said the number of wind turbines, their sizes and locations have not yet been determined. He said the physical aspects of the project will be determined through consultation with residents, and by considering provincially required setback distances from homes, roads and environmental features.

“If the proposed Maple Hill Wind Project is developed, it will bring economic benefits to the Powassan area in the form of increased property tax revenues to the municipality, lease payments to landowners, and spending to local contractors, businesses, and services,” said Parsons. “It will also help the government of Ontario to reach its goal of shutting down the province’s remaining coal fired power plants and thereby improve the quality of the air all Ontarians breathe every day.”

Some residents in the area, however, aren’t convinced.

Homeowner Kevin Smith said in an e-mail about 100 citizens gathered at the Powassan Legion last week to hear from anti-wind turbine activist Kevin Elwood about his battle against wind turbines in Stayner.

“We wanted our neighbours to be informed, to get the full story,” said Smith, an organizer of the meeting. “It’s not too late for our community to consult with our mayor and town council on the issue of wind turbines, to make our voices heard and to take action while we can.”

Powassan council was recently unwilling to pass a resolution of support for the proposal due to questions about the size and scope of the project, the effect on property values and concerns about possible links between wind turbines and long-term health issues.

Smith said Elwood discussed during Monday’s meeting the negative effect wind turbines would have on property values, health of neighbours and the environment.

Parsons said he wasn’t invited to attended that meeting.

“I would very much welcome the opportunity to share information about wind energy and the very limited details of the proposed project to the local residents, and to receive feedback from them,” he said. “Anemos Energy will be holding a public open house meeting in the near future so that we can meet and talk with members of the community.”

[rest of article available at source]

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/11/powassan-wind-project-not-yet-off-the-ground/