August 13, 2010
Ontario

Developer going ahead with wind farm project, despite bylaw

By MARY GOLEM FOR THE POST, www.thepost.on.ca 13 August 2010

CHESLEY—A 115-megawatt wind farm project in Arran-Elderslie “is going ahead,” the developer says, despite council objections, including its widely-circulated bylaw challenging a section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in an attempt to block turbine development within the municipality.

Charles Edey, president of Leader Resources Services Corp., told council at a meeting in Chesley Monday that not only is Leader proceeding with the 46 commercial wind turbine project near Arran Lake, it has also pooled resources of$250,000 amongst seven other developers and manufacturers to take council’s bylaw and the municipality “all the way to the Supreme Court.”

“We will build resources, including capital and marketing materials, to challenge this bylaw and any similar bylaws passed in other municipalities,” Edey said, “including funds to support any legal challenge as a result of delayed issuance of building permits.”

“That is not to be looked at as a threat, because it is not,” Edey told council and about a dozen wind energy opponents in attendance at the meeting. “We don’t believe going to court is a good use of resources but if that’s what it takes to move the project forward, well…” Edey pointed out, saying he believes council’s bylaw “is designed to be insurmountable.”

The bylaw, passed in May, calls for “the protection of life, liberty and security of person” under Section 7 of the Charter, claiming wind turbines cause serious health effects. The bylaw, circulated to all Ontario municipalities, has received the support of more than 40 municipalities to date.

[rest of article available at source]


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/13/developer-going-ahead-with-wind-farm-project-despite-bylaw/