September 30, 2010
Ontario

Cost recovery bylaw for wind turbines given first and second readings

By Susan Hundertmark, Seaforth Huron Expositor, www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com 29 September 2010

A cost recovery bylaw aimed at “renewable energy generation facilities” was given first and second reading at Huron East council at its Sept. 21 meeting.

The bylaw, aimed at recouping expenses incurred by the municipality when it reviews applications to install facilities or created by damages to municipal infrastructure during construction, came from Huron East solicitor Greg Stewart with consultation from Kristi Ross, the lawyer representing Huron East Against Turbines (HEAT).

Ross recommended changes to the original bylaw, which will be reviewed by Stewart before the bylaw is given final reading.

“The reason for the change is the way it’s worded now is the energy approval is at the end of the process. We’ve always been concerned that the bylaw has teeth in it so it’s worth the paper it’s printed on,” said HEAT member Gerry Ryan.

Ryan added that HEAT is concerned that the municipality would have enough time to do any necessary review of a wind turbine company’s application.

McKillop Coun. Bill Siemon asked if any other municipalities than Arran-Elderslie and Bluewater had expressed interest in helping with the costs to launch a test case of a bylaw aimed at regulated low frequency noise.

Clerk-Administrator Jack McLachlan said he has heard from three municipalities that they would attend a meeting to discuss a low frequency noise test bylaw, from one that wasn’t interested and one that said maybe. The interested municipalities are Bluewater, Arran-Elderslie and Huron-Kinloss. He sent out 14 letters asking municipalities if they’d be interested in participating in a test bylaw on low frequency noise.

Siemon said he spoke to engineer Bill Palmer, one of the featured speakers at a public meeting last week hosted by HEAT and Central Huron Against Turbines (CHAT), and heard that a low frequency noise study has already been done.

“He said he’d be more than willing to provide comments of what should be in there,” said Siemon.

McLachlan added that the province has hired consultants Howe Gastmeier Chapnik Limited to do a low frequency noise study but he hasn’t learned yet where the public meetings will be held.

Huron East has not yet made any decisions about whether or not to proceed with a LFN test bylaw.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/30/cost-recovery-bylaw-for-wind-turbines-given-first-and-second-readings/