May 16, 2012
Letters, Ontario

Double standard?

15 May 2012 | www.niagarathisweek.com

In “Region rejects OMB appeal of severance decision” (April 26, 2012) Marilyn Radman, the Region’s manager of development planning is quoted as saying “while a single (3-acre) severance may not seem significant today, the cumulative impact of these severances in the future may impact our ability to meet our food production needs.” She is additionally quoted as saying “Every acre of agricultural land that is removed from the agricultural land inventory for residential or other use reduces the potential for jobs and economic activity in Niagara.”

Interesting. There are two wind energy developers currently operating in the Niagara Region. Each of their industrial wind turbines requires one acre for the tower and about 2 more acres for the access road and wires, a total of 3 acres. Niagara Region Wind Corporation plans to build 77 industrial wind turbines which will take 231 acres of Niagara’s farm land out of production. IPC Energy is in process with plans for a second industrial wind turbine project in Niagara which will result in the removal of more farm land from food production.

Based on Ms. Radman’s statements, she and the Region should be opposed to this loss of agricultural land too. Please send your message to Mr. Bradley, Minister of the Environment and to Premier McGuinty. Personally, I’d much rather live beside a rural residence on a 3 acre lot than a 60-story industrial electrical generating facility.

Carol Barker

Wellandport


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/16/double-standard/