March 1, 2011
Ontario

SON supports offshore turbine moratorium

Shoreline Beacon, www.shorelinebeacon.com 1 March 2011

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) announced last week in a news release that it supports the Ontario government’s recent decision to halt future offshore wind turbine development until further scientific research is done.

“We applaud the Government for its decision to suspend off shore wind development,” said Chief Ralph Akiwenzie, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. “With this decision, they have taken a responsible step to ensuring the protection of our Lakes and their ability to continue to sustain us physically, spiritually and economically.”

The Saugeen Ojibway Nations commended the Ontario Government for adopting a precautionary approach to the development of offshore wind resources, the new release said. It contend offshore wind projects are an unproven technology in environments like the Great Lakes, and any decisions on their technological acceptability will require a substantial foundation of scientific data and research.

The most important issue for SON, like many other Ontarians, is that they rely heavily on the alth and integrity of the Great Lakes. There are tremendous cultural and economical interest that could be impacted by industrial developments in our Lakes which must be understood and respected, the news release continued.

“The Ontario Government has taken a principled and precautionary approach to the issue of off-shore wind development,” said Chief Randal Kahgee of Saugeen First Nat ion. “While the goal of increasing renewable energy generation is laudable, it must be balanced by other considerations -including protecting our most sensitive and critical environments from mass industrialization. Ontario’s decision shows that it is listening .”

The Saugeen Ojibway Nations are collectively the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation. In January 2010, SON signed a historic agreement with Ontario that addresses energy development throughout SON’s traditional territory, including the Bruce area and Peninsula, extending as far south as Goderich and east of Collingwood, and is inclusive of the waters surrounding the Bruce Peninsula to the international border with the United States.

[rest of article available at source]


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/01/son-supports-offshore-turbine-moratorium/