May 18, 2011
Ontario

Wind Concerns comes to the County

countylive.ca 17 May 2011

This Friday John Laforet, president of Wind Concerns Ontario, will be bringing WCO’s province-wide ‘Truth about Turbines Tour’ to the County Friday, May 20.
“The goal is to get more publicity for wind development issues and to raise the political stakes prior to this fall’s election,” said Henri Garand. Chair, Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County (APPEC). “The government’s reversals in Scarborough Bluffs and Oakville show what political pressure can achieve. We need to apply more of it locally on our Liberal MPP.”
There are two opportunities Friday:

• A breakfast at the Waring House, where John Laforet will speak on the legal, financial and political consequences of wind turbines. He will explain how WCO will be campaigning against every Liberal MPP in Ontario because of the flawed, undemocratic wind policy. He will also share what other jurisdictions are doing and give concrete ideas about actions that can be taken. Time: 8 – 9:30 a.m. Cost: $12 per person.

• A 550-metre march to Leona Dombrowski’s office in Picton. Assemble at the Metro parking lot on the east side. Time: 9:45 for a 10 a.m. start.

“All wind issues may be raised, but the emphasis is on the environment, including the recent application by Gilead Power to kill, harm and harass endangered species,” Garand said. ” We want her to stop it now.”
Since both these events will attract the media, we need to have as many people as possible participate. It’s not necessary to be an APPEC member. Your friends and neighbours are welcome to join in.

On Monday, May 30, “Windfall,” a new documentary that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last September and that has been gaining accolades across North America, comes to the Regent Theatre in Picton. Three screenings have been programmed, at 3:30, 5:45 and 8:00 pm. The film runs 83 minutes, and each screening will be followed by a live Skype Q& A with the director/producer, Laura Israel.
The cameras follow the residents of Meredith, New York as they go through a process that will becoming familiar to many Prince Edward County residents – debating the pros and cons of allowing wind turbines in their community. Local proponents champion the promise of green energy and monetary compensation, while detractors question the efficiency of wind-generated energy and the drawbacks of living among 400-foot tall towers with gigantic rotating blades.
With thousands of acres optioned in and around Prince Edward County, and with hundreds of turbines planned for this area, the film is timely.
First-time director Laura Israel, who has a log cabin in Meredith, first became aware of the town’s wind energy debate when she read stories in the local newspaper about the potential dangers of turbines to the bird and bat population.
“I went through the same process myself as they did in the film,” says Israel. “First, I thought, maybe I’d like to get a wind turbine, but then I started going on the Internet and realized there was more to the story.”
Israel videotaped in Meredith for about a year, documenting contentious board meetings and interviewing residents, and also visiting other areas in New York, such as Lewis County, where wind turbines have already taken hold. The film offers few experts on either side of the debate; rather, it allows local townspeople to discuss their own research and real life experiences once the turbines arrive. Israel argues that people and communities need to be informed as they make decisions about wind energy. “What I would want people to do is research it and look at it critically” says Israel. She advises, “Do your homework.”
The film has been an official selection at numerous film festivals, including Toronto and Vancouver. It was declared winner of the Grand Prize at DOC NYC.
This screening has been organized by the County Coalition for Safe and Appropriate Green Energy (CCSAGE).


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/18/wind-concerns-comes-to-the-county/