October 10, 2012
Nova Scotia

Groves Point homeowners say no to wind turbines

CBC News | Oct 10, 2012 | www.cbc.ca

About 30 people who live near Groves Point in Cape Breton are worried proposed wind turbines will be a noisy eyesore and hurt their property values.

Natural Forces Technologies Inc. wants to erect three wind turbines in the area.

“Our big concern is our property value is going to fall to next to nothing, the health effects these have on the people in the surrounding areas and the visual impact that its going to have,” said Kevin Boudreau, who lives in nearby Hillside Boularderie.

“We have nesting grounds here for eagles, hawks and wildlife, the osprey, everything. It’s going to affect the wildlife in the area.”

Natural Forces Technologies Inc. said all the concerns have been heard before.

“It’s a lot of sitting down and going through the evidence that is out there. This is what we do as a job. I don’t like to say we are experts, but we do know a lot about these issues,” said Andy MacCallum, vice-president of Natural Forces Technologies Inc.

MacCallum said there is plenty of evidence that wind farms do not devalue properties.

Turbines will be placed more than a kilometre from any house and may be on a hill, out of sight. The proposed turbine site is on land between Highway 105 and Groves Point.

If completed, the turbines are expected to produce 5.6 megawatts of power.

The project was approved for possible development under Nova Scotia’s Community Feed-in Tariff program.

MacCallum said a noise impact assessment will be conducted and field studies on wildlife are ongoing. An environmental assessment of the project has yet to be completed.

People in the area have formed a citizens group to fight the possible development.

“We should be able to enjoy our property to the full extent without being annoyed,” said Boudreau.

The group is going to circulate a petition to protest the development.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/10/groves-point-homeowners-say-no-to-wind-turbines/