January 21, 2012
Ontario
Ontario
Farmers want wind farm development suspended; say issue is dividing communities
The Canadian Press, www.yorktonthisweek.com 20 January 2012
The Canadian Press, www.yorktonthisweek.com 20 January 2012
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is calling on the province to suspend further development of wind farms.
President Mark Wales says escalating concerns about industrial wind turbines have prompted the OFA to make the recommendation.
Wales says farm families and rural residents must be assured that their interests are adequately protected in the development of wind farms.
The OFA says it supports the intentions of the Green Energy Act, but notes wind power has been shown to be inefficient.
And Wales says the proliferation of wind turbines across rural Ontario has seriously polarized communities.
He says residents have been pitted against their neighbours over concerns with health impacts and quality of life issues relating to wind turbines.
“We are hearing very clearly from our members that the wind turbine situation is coming to a head – seriously dividing rural communities,” Wales said Friday.
“The onus is on our provincial government to ensure the interests of rural Ontarians are protected,” he added.
Several lawsuits have been launched against wind farms attributing health issues such as sleep disturbance, headache and memory problems to wind turbines.
Last February, the Liberal government halted development of off-shore wind farms.
Premier Dalton McGuinty has said the province will push ahead with land-based wind turbine projects.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/21/farmers-want-wind-farm-development-suspended-say-issue-is-dividing-communities/