National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Politicians ready to walk out on premier

Most of Chatsworth’s councillors will be ready to walk out over the wind turbine issue when Premier Dalton McGuinty gives his keynote speech at the upcoming Ontario Good Roads Association meeting in Toronto.

Council passed a motion Wednesday supporting a resolution from Arran-Elderslie for the province to place a moratorium on all wind turbine construction until concerns about them are addressed. Arran-Elderslie’s motion was partly based on an Ontario Federation of Agriculture call for a one-year moratorium beginning Feb. 20. Arran- Elderslie has also asked all municipal representatives to walk out of the good roads meeting when McGuinty gives his speech Feb. 27 if a moratorium isn’t in place.

Mayor Bob Pringle cautioned councillors that leaving while the premier is speaking may damage their relationship with the province, but he said he is ready to walk out “as long as all the other municipalities did so and we were unified.

The OFA’s position is that the province is not listening to rural Ontario’s concerns over wind turbines, which include health related issues, the cost of wind power, setbacks and the lack of municipal input.

Coun. Cornelius Vlielander was the lone voice opposing the walkout.

“They (wind towers) work very well in Holland,” he said.

FARMERS’ MARKET IN WILLIAMSFORD

Council has given the Williamsford farmers’ market approval to operate at the the Williamsford Hall and Curling Club parking lot again.

This will be the fifth year for the farmers’ market. It will open May 18 and run until the Thanksgiving long weekend Oct. 8.

“Last year went very well,” said market manager Joe Moseburger. “We are slowly building up a vendor and customer clientele.”

Moseburger is looking for more vendors and is disappointed that the large Amish community nearby has not joined in.

“I’ve been asking them door to door, but so far they haven’t come out,” Moseburger said.

He cited that the fee of $10 was a deterrent and also the distance they had to travel to get to the market. Most, Moseburger said, were content to sell their vegetables and fruits from their homes. Council noted that some of the Amish were selling harvest items such as strawberries and maple syrup along Hwy. 6

Pringle reiterated that he supports the Amish community and hoped they would participate in the Williamsford Farmers’ Market. The market, will run from 3 to 7 p.m. every Friday. Vendors can pay $10 per day, $70 for half a season or $120 for a full season.

He noted that a full season fee at the Keady Market was $800.