National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Wind turbine opposition group in Lambton this week

Wind Concerns Ontario’s “Truth About Turbines” tour is coming to Lambton County on Thursday.

A group called Lambton Shores Concerned Citizens invited John Laforet, president of the provincial organization opposed to industrial wind turbines, to speak, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Bosanquet Central Public School on Northville Road.

Laforet is on a tour around the province raising awareness about the opposition to industrial wind turbines, and organizing communities to take action in the fall provincial election.

“We feel that this might be our only recourse,” said Marcelle Brooks, of Lambton Shores Concerned Citizens, “to get rid of the Liberal government.”

Brooks said the Lambton Shores group formed in recent months over worries that she, her partner Mike Mahood and their neighbours had about plans for 250 or more industrial wind turbines in the community.

All 10 of the wind turbines built in Lambton County so far are in Lambton Shores.

“We really kind of had a panic attack,” Brooks said. “We love our countryside.”

Out her front window she sees deer and wild turkey in fields surrounded by trees.

“I’m terrified that this can be destroyed in an instant with reckless construction of these turbines.”

Their farm is on Ridge Road, in the centre of the proposed Jericho Wind Energy Centre, which could have 150 or more turbines if it’s built.

Brooks said they asked to meet with Maria Van Bommel, the Liberal MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, in December but the discussion didn’t go well.

“We just wanted to talk with her about some of the health concerns and how the government was going to be addressing those, and she just shouted us down.”

After that, Brooks said they connected with Wind Concerns Ontario and the Lambton Shores group now numbers about 10 people.

Brooks said they’ve been distributing flyers and hope to attract 100 people to the June 9 gathering.

They’ve also invited Van Bommel and Conservative candidate Monte McNaughton.

“Our meeting is not necessarily against turbines,” Brooks said.

“It’s to educate people about turbines and then you make your own decision.”

Some of the issues expected to be addressed that evening include impact on property values, health and environmental effects, stray voltage, turbine lease options and the loss of property rights, as well as impacts on community development and tourism.

Brooks said she believes there needs to be more in-depth study of the possible health impacts on people living near wind turbines.

“There’s people saying they’re OK. There’s people saying they’re not OK.” Brooke said she believes there’s enough evidence for Ontario residents to be concerned.

“We need to do more studies before the turbines go up, not after when people get sick.”