Wind blows from Port Elgin to Queen’s Park 

“There are 117 homes within the 550 metre setback regulated by the government, but the CAW doesn’t have to abide by the rule,” the release states, referring to the 550 metre setback laid out in the Green Energy Act.

Allow me to correct our MPP, and many other people who continue to make the claim that the wind turbine at the Family Education Centre either circumvents the Green Energy Act or does not have to follow the government’s regulations because the approval process predates it.

I posed the question to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in 2012 about the setback surrounding the wind turbine. They replied as follows: “Under Ontario’s Renewable Energy Approval requirements, large wind turbines with significant power output have to comply with a minimum setback of 550 metres. Smaller turbines, such as (the Unifor turbine), are not subject to the same minimum setbacks, but they still must meet our stringent noise standards.”

My issue here is not about people wanting the turbine shut down, the government tossed out or any other number of scenarios. It’s about not being factually accurate in the execution of the argument.

At Saugeen Shores town council Aug. 26, a laundry list of reasons to shut down the turbine were heard. People in this town have made absolutely horrific claims about how their health and wellbeing have changed since the turbine began operation. If those claims are proven in either a court of law (through a law suit that just has to happen) or court of medical science (if, eventually, the symptoms presented can be proven to be caused by the turbine, in the way smoking causes cancer), then there would have to be no choice than to scrap the whole thing. Honestly, it’s hard to fault STOP, or Thompson or any opponent of that turbine for trying everything they can to do so.

So, lead with the evidence, not with misconceptions, when you’re fighting this or any fight. For a lot of people, the Green Energy Act is an awful piece of legislation, but it’s not being skirted by this turbine, nor is it the reason town council was essentially helpless to stop its construction and operation.

In the news release, Thompson said “The Green Energy Act as it is written has handcuffed the Saugeen Shores council, not allowing them to stand up for their constituents.” In many cases, I’d agree completely, but not here. For the better part of seven years council has been trying to stand up for its constituents regarding this turbine and it was other government agencies that decided the elected officials of the town didn’t know what was best for the municipality.

When the turbine was first proposed, council shot it down. The consensus at the time, in the years where just about everyone loved wind power, was that the location selected for the turbine was not a great spot. The CAW appealed council’s decision to the Ontario Municipal Board and won. Five years later, shovels were in the ground and picket signs were in the air.

So what happens next? It likely isn’t an issue that goes away if the Liberals are defeated in the next election. Nor is it one that will seemingly be brought through meaningful dialogue between representatives from Unifor, the town, STOP or any other number of stakeholders (because, potentially, most people will tell you that the meaningful dialogue just isn’t happening).

Honestly, this issue goes away when the turbine does. And that fight is still just beginning.