Hearing for NextEra’s severances starts this week
By Betty Ort, Haldimand Wind Concerns www.sachem.ca 1 May 2012
By Betty Ort, Haldimand Wind Concerns www.sachem.ca 1 May 2012
Wainfleet Township Council recently showed its commitment to protect their citizens from the negative effects of industrial wind turbines by passing a bylaw, which specifies a setback distance of 2 km, a maximum noise level of 32 dBA at the nearest property and the developer must provide 100 per cent indemnification for any loss of property value or adverse health effects directly or indirectly caused by an industrial wind turbine.
A couple in Stayner, Ontario launched a legal action for property devaluation and loss of use and enjoyment of property against the wind developer and Beattie Brothers Ltd. who plan to host six wind turbines. When the couple’s property was listed to sell, it attracted intense interest for two weeks until the proposed wind development killed all interest in the sale. Now 15 other people in the same area have joined this couple in their lawsuit. A second collective action has also been started by five more landowners in a lawsuit against the same developer and another Beattie family who intends to host two wind turbines. Total value of the two claims now exceeds $17 million.
Obscured within the Ontario Budget Bill 55, is critical legislation that would amend many environmentally significant laws administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Normally when the government proposes to amend legislation that is prescribed under the Environmental Registry, it would post a proposal notice on the registry, solicit public comments for 30 days, consider the comments and then make a decision. However, budget bills are exempt from being posted on the registry.
“As a result, the public would not have the same opportunities to contribute to decision-making when a number of environmentally significant laws are changed in a budget bill,” said the Environmental Commissioner. Especially critical, is Schedule 19, which amends the Endangered Species Act to provide for several exemptions from the prohibitions against killing or harming species at risk and damaging or destroying their habitat by a renewable energy project and other types of infrastructure projects.
Haldimand Wind Concerns, Bill Monture and the Haudenosaunee Development Institute have appealed NextEra’s wind project approval in Haldimand. A preliminary hearing has been conducted by the Environmental Review Tribunal Hearing Panel on Monday, April 30 at the Hagersville Community Centre. The main hearing of these appeals will begin on Monday, May 28, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hagersville Community Centre.
The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing concerning NextEra’s severances for the substation and switchyard began on Tuesday, May 1 and is scheduled for 3 days at the Council Chambers in the Cayuga Administration Building, 45 Munsee St. North, Cayuga.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/01/hearing-for-nexteras-severances-starts-this-week/