May 26, 2013
Ontario

Central Huron unwilling wind host

Rick Stow | May 25, 2013 | www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca

The municipality of Central Huron has joined two of its neighbouring communities and declared itself an “Unwilling Host” for wind turbine purposes.

The move came at the regular municipal meeting this week.

Councillor Burk Metzger moved a motion that was unanimously adopted by all representatives able to vote.

Mayor Jim Ginn declared conflict, and did not participate in discussions.

Central Huron joins Huron East and South Huron as lower-tier communities in the County opposed to siting turbines on its land.

The Municipality of Bluewater has developed a bylaw regime that would slap fees of 400 thousand dollars per turbine on wind developer Nextera, but maintains it is still in dialogue with the firm.

The planned development for Central Huron is on a larger scale than the neighbouring Varna and Huron East projects, and could be permitted to a Texas billionaire.

The Central Huron Council Chamber in the REACH Centre was packed with residents who expressed serious concerns about property values should the project go ahead.

Councillor Metzger recalled experiences he had run into in dealing with similar development in his native Germany.

Representative Allison Lobb observed the Green Energy Act is “terribly flawed.”

Metzger says Premier Kathleen Wynne’s statement that municipalities that don’t want turbines won’t get them is an olive branch that might lead to the restoration of local control over where the units go.

[audio available]


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/26/central-huron-unwilling-wind-host/