December 20, 2011
Saskatchewan

Wind coalition packs chambers

Posted by: David Hutton, The StarPhoenix, thestarphoenix.com 20 December 2011

A group of residents urged Saskatoon city council Monday to stop the construction of a wind turbine atop the Saskatoon landfill.

The Saskatoon Wind Turbine Coalition opposes the project, which was approved by council in October. About $500,000 has been spent on the turbine project thus far.

The group packed into council chambers as three speakers outlined their concerns at the beginning of the night.

“What the City of Saskatoon has before it is an error,” said Chris Fossenier, a local IT firm owner and property developer who is active with the coalition. “There is time to correct it before it becomes a grave mistake.”

The opportunity for companies to bid on the construction the estimated $5-million turbine has closed. The city’s administration will report on Jan. 16 on the project’s financial viability and the winning bid, council heard.

Three councillors voted against the wind turbine project when it was approved in October (Tiffany Paulsen, Darren Hill, and Pat Lorje) while Coun. Charlie Clark voted against it when the turbine was up for approval by the Meewasin Valley Authority board. The group has been actively lobbying councillors to try to gain enough support to quash the contract approval in January.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/12/20/wind-coalition-packs-chambers/