February 27, 2007
Prince Edward Island

Power lines spark complaints

High voltage lines leading from a new wind farm in western Prince Edward Island have some area residents concerned about their health.

John Gallant of Howlan, just north of O’Leary, says he and his neighbours have been complaining about the possible health effects of high voltage lines so close to residences, and a drop in property values, but their concerns have been ignored.

“We’ve been fighting it ever since it started,” Gallant told CBC News Monday.

“It’s going by houses 20 feet from the window sills to the line. Everybody is just appalled. This whole little end of the Island is just up in arms. All our properties will go down in value…but it’s the health that is the number one concern.”

Residents are organizing a meeting Thursday night to discuss their next step. They’ve invited officials from Maritime Electric and Ventus, which is building the wind farm.

Maritime Electric told CBC News it’s aware some residents along Howlan Road have concerns about the power lines, but noted company officials met with residents on five separate occasions.

“We followed all the guidelines in place that we follow in terms of good utility practice,” spokeswoman Kim Griffin said.

“We had a public information session with folks in the area to show them what the structures would look like, where the planned area was. So it’s a fairly lengthy process in terms of the regulation and assessments required.”

Griffin said the project is safe and the utility will continue to work with local residents to alleviate their concerns.

The $250-million wind farm being constructed at West Cape will have a peak capacity of 99 megawatts. Much of the power produced is destined for export.

CBC News

cbc.ca

27 February 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/02/27/power-lines-spark-complaints/