Wind Power News: Ontario
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.
Council asked to pass IWT bylaw
A Meaford resident has asked members of council to bring forward a bylaw pertaining to industrial wind turbines that he feels would have some teeth, and would protect the community, its residents, and its agricultural sector from an influx of wind farms. Mike Osborn, who has been a resident of the municipality since 2004, told council that he was making the request on behalf of a group of concerned citizens. “We are very concerned about the various adverse impacts of . . .
MPP raises airport’s wind turbine concerns in legislature
QUEEN’S PARK — Simcoe-Grey’s Member of Provincial Parliament took the local airport board’s fight against wind turbines to the floor of the Ontario legislature, Monday, calling on the Liberal government to heed the warnings of aviation experts. “Why is the government even entertaining a project that would compromise safety at the Collingwood Regional Airport?” Jim Wilson asked of the government during Question Period. The municipal services board that oversees the facility has been asking that same question for nearly a . . .
Green energy leaves Windsor with broken promises
The green energy sector has not delivered to Windsor the number of jobs several firms collectively promised during the last three years. Through media releases, public announcements and media coverage of grand openings, CBC News has learned that eight companies promised they would fill up to 1,480 jobs in the alternative energy sector by the end of 2012. To date, three of those companies are operating in Windsor and employ approximately 262 people. According to company spokesperson Patrick Persichilli, CS . . .
Scenes of a crime?
Mayor David Bolton defends his call to the cops, saying after weeks of videos being posted on YouTube, some council members had grown frightened of speaking at all, lest they say something stupid.
Dufferin juggles turbines, development charges
The county may try to cash in by collecting a larger amount in development charges (DCs) for wind turbines as they sprout up in Dufferin. Currently, Dufferin is eligible to collect DCs based on gross floor area (GFA) relating to wind turbine projects. As Dufferin works to revamp its existing bylaw in place since 2008, county officials have asked Hemson Consulting Limited to suggest some alternatives, one of which may include charging a flat rate per turbine. “The square metre . . .
Pay more for wind turbines
It doesn’t happen too often but Armow resident Ashley Duncan received applause and a standing ovation from some Kincardine councillors after delivering her address on the pending Samsung/Pattern wind farm development in her area. Duncan got right to the point, urging council to approve a building permit increase for turbines to 35 thousand dollars apiece — well above the normal going rate. That works out to more than 3.4 million dollars. She says if the turbine developers are going to . . .
Municipalities on the outside looking in
More and more across eastern Ontario, citizens are standing up in opposition to large-scale solar- and wind-power projects. It’s pushback against the province’s Green Energy Act, which took away the ability of municipalities to regulate where megaprojects can and cannot be built. In Kingston’s rural area to the northwest, Samsung is about to build a 100-megawatt solar facility on 800 acres of land it has accumulated through private deals with landowners. Kingston has no power to officially criticize, alter or . . .
Peninsula prime for turbines; Plans for 200 turbines running into local opposition
Wind farm developers see the scenic Bruce Peninsula as an ideal locale for industrial turbines. At least two companies have announced plans to erect some 200 turbines throughout the northern stretch of Bruce County. “We have always believed that the Bruce Peninsula is a good wind area to add to the Ontario grid and we believe that is why our project is still on track,” said Daniel LeBlanc, project director for Preneal Canada, which hopes to build up to 75 . . .
Powassan wind project not yet off the ground
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.
Winds of change… Winds of war
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. It is hard to believe that Premier McGuinty had any Machiavellian agenda when his government conceived the Green Energy Act. It seems like a good idea to harness renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power and replace the fossil fuel power plants that are contributing mightily to global warming. It’s happened before, and it will happen again, that somewhere between the eureka moment and the implementation of the policy . . .
