Wind Power News: Canada
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Green Energy Act divides Ontario
Nobody knows what’s best for a community better than the people, small businesses and local councillors who live there. That is why it is so maddening to see signs of large industrial wind and solar projects pushing ahead despite endless local opposition. Under any other circumstance, ratepayers would have a say in what is built in their community. Your local council can determine where a hot dog stand can go, but because of Dalton McGuinty’s Green Energy Act, they are . . .
Troublesome winds blowing
The proposed wind energy project for North Perth and Perth East has shaken this community. Letters to the editor are arriving on a daily basis. Normally laid-back and meek residents are speaking out on their beliefs. Tensions ran high during a recent Invenergy Canada delegation at North Perth municipal council. Folks are concerned, confused and many are downright fighting mad about wind turbines. It isn’t every day that a controversy of this magnitude takes a small-town community like this by . . .
Turmoil over turbine
In response to the proposal of building a wind turbine in Selkirk Park, Ed Marchuk, a concerned resident, and Ruby Tekauz, president of the local Birdwatchers Club, came before City council in a delegation opposing the structure Feb. 6. The two told council the purposed turbine would be in an unsatisfactory location, would be harmful as it would disturb wildlife and the structure would be in violation of several agreements made between the City and the Selkirk Canoe and Kayak . . .
Turbine proposal could face more legal action
STAYNER – There could be more legal action against WPD Canada and Beattie Brothers regarding the wind turbine development that is proposed near Stayner. WPD is the company that wants to erect eight turbines on land that would be leased from the Beattie Brothers. More than 50 landowners against the project met at the Nottawasaga Community Centre in Duntroon on Saturday, Feb. 4 to discuss their options. Sylvia Wiggins and her husband John own a property on Nottawasaga Concession 6 . . .
‘Go someplace else,’ Invenergy told
LISTOWEL — “How do you live with yourself?” “Where’s your conscious?” These and other questions and comments were hurled at Invenergy Canada director of business development James Murphy by members of the public following his delegation at a North Perth council meeting Monday evening. Tensions ran so high in the crowded council chambers that Murphy had to leave via a back exit as a crowd of angry picketers had gathered around the main doors. Murphy had been addressing municipal council . . .
Nova Scotia warned of wind power glut
Nova Scotia’s consumer advocates say there could soon be too much wind power in the province, which may lead to higher power rates. The warning comes as a bidding war gets underway to supply more wind power to meet renewable energy targets. The provincial government says 25 per cent of electricity must come from these sources by 2015. Existing wind farms and new players are responding to a request for proposals to supply an extra 300 gigawatt hours to the . . .
Sprott Power wind farm under fire
AMHERST – It’s only in the planning stages, but a proposed wind farm on the east side of the Trans-Canada Highway already has people asking questions about noise. Sprott Power announced last month plans to expand its Amherst wind project and is looking at land across the highway from the existing $61-million development that includes 15 turbines and will generate 31.5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 10,000 homes. That has some Amherst homeowners, living along the marsh, concerned. “I . . .
Wind protesters stand their ground near Watford
BROOKE-ALVINSTON — About 40 protesters rallied along a muddy rural road Tuesday where four wind turbines are under construction in an open farm field. “This is our community, this is our home. We will push it as far as we can push it,” said organizer Marcelle Brooks, holding a sign saying “McGuinty is not listening.” “If that means we will be standing in front of a bulldozer, that’s where we’ll be,” she said. Members of the Middlesex-Lambton Wind Action Group . . .
Alberta wind farm approved
Alberta regulators have approved Geilectric Inc.’s application to build a 69-megawatt wind farm in the blustery southwest corner of the province. Geilectric, which touts itself as being a no-employee entity managed by Montreal-based wind power player Eolectric, proposes to build the 26-turbine Welsch wind power project approximately 13 kilometres northeast of Pincher Creek. It appears to be the company’s first project in Alberta. The Alberta Utilities Commission announced its approval of the project and substation, with conditions, late Monday. Geilectric . . .
More consultation planned for wind farm
The proponents of a wind farm near Priceville told West Grey council this week that they have expanded the area for the project, so a public consultation process has to start again. Opponents of the proposal picketed West Grey’s administration building Tuesday before representatives of NextEra Energy updated council about the project. About 70 of them packed the council chambers. Pat Becker of Genivar engineering explained that a larger area is needed during the initial stage of selecting the final . . .
