May 21, 2011
Ontario

Wind Concerns Ontario backs protection of Ostrander Point

By Henri Garand, countylive.ca 20 May 2011

“Wind Concerns Ontario will stand with you to protect Ostrander Point,” said WCO president John Laforet. “We will do everything possible to prevent a single industrial wind turbine from being approved on that site.”

Laforet was speaking at Waring House Friday morning as part of his province-wide “Truth about Turbines Tour.” During six weeks and 6000 km of travel he is making 40 stops to draw attention to the economic, environmental and health facts about wind development. One of his engagements is before the Empire Club of Canada on June 2.

In Picton, at a breakfast meeting, Laforet told 100 APPEC and CCSAGE supporters that the message to Bay Street is clear: Every project will be appealed to the Environmental Review Tribunal. Wind developers won’t have an easy ride even after the award of electricity contracts.

WCO has called for an end to Feed-in Tariffs with excessive subsidies, including those to Samsung. Laforet said that since Samsung’s deal was not just for incentives totalling $461 million but a contract that would pay out $1.1 billion each year for 20 years, it might be better to accept the short-term pain of a financial penalty for cancellation.

Turning to the environment, Laforet explained that wind projects will wreak incalculable damage across Ontario. Near Thunder Bay, he reported, 150 acres of long-protected woodland will be clearcut, with a loss of 400 large sugar maples growing at their farthest northern range. Amherst Island faces the same harm as on Wolfe Island.

“The MNR release on Gilead Power’s application for a permit to kill endangered species,” he said, “is yet one more example of the disregard the Ontario Liberals have for our natural environment even when it contributes to tourism and community vitality.”

Listeners applauded when Laforet said that MPP Leona Dombrowsky “needs to understand her job is to represent Prince Edward County and if devastation happens at Ostrander Point, she will not be re-elected in the fall.”

Laforet acknowledged “the strong leadership coming from Prince Edward County” and cited Beth Harrington for WCO communications, Dr. Robert McMurtry on health issues, and Ian Hanna for the judicial review case. He noted that 80 municipalities representing two million Ontario citizens have passed motions for a moratorium until a health study is done.

Asked where people could get good information on the issues, Laforet suggested www.windconcernsontario.org for the facts on Ontario, www.windvigilance.com for health, and www.wind-watch.org for worldwide news.

After a few more questions the meeting ended, and the action moved to downtown Picton. Laforet joined more than 100 people carrying placards to march down Main Street to Leona Dombrowsky’s campaign office.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/21/wind-concerns-ontario-backs-protection-of-ostrander-point/