December 17, 2013
Ontario

Wilson angered over status of Wpd wind turbine application

By Michael Gennings | Stayner Sun | December 16, 2013 | www.simcoe.com

Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson said he is outraged the province has deemed Wpd Canada’s application to erect eight wind turbines west of Stayner complete.

The application has been uploaded to the province’s Environmental Registry (http://tinyurl.com/kxr2e4h) where people can review it and make comment.

The province says that all comments received prior to Feb. 1, 2014 will be considered as part of the decision-making process, which also includes a technical evaluation of the application.

Wilson said Friday he has written to Premier Kathleen Wynne, questioning the province’s decision to OK the application.

“I am writing to you today in response to your government’s decision to declare Wpd Canada’s application to build eight 500-foot industrial wind turbines on the flight path of Collingwood Regional Airport complete and accepted for technical review,” Wilson said in a letter to the premier. “As you are aware, my constituents and I strongly oppose this project.”

Wilson told Wynne the decision to deem the application complete was made “without consultation and in spite of safety concerns. It goes against resolutions opposing this development from the Township of Clearview, Town of Collingwood, and Town of Wasaga Beach.”

Wilson and municipal officials are concerned about how close the turbines would be to the airport. Officials say the turbines would pose a hazard to planes taking off and landing at the facility.

If the project is approved, the turbines would be situated just south of the airport. The closest would be 3.1 kilometres away.

Some worry the project will negatively impact property values and also cause health problems. Some people living near wind turbines have said they experience such things as headaches, sleep problems, nausea and a ringing in the ears.

Clearview’s director of planning, Michael Wynia, said last week the province has prematurely declared the application complete.

He said the township hasn’t been able to “complete the mandatory municipal consultation form due to technical errors in that form.”

“Aside from the already noted major deficiency and errors in the description of the project location, the name plate capacity and the applicant name are also different,” he said.

He reiterated concerns about the proximity of the turbines to the airport and noted the township is also concerned about how the turbines might negatively impact the municipality’s viewscape.

He said that instead of allowing Clearview to work with the applicant to address its concerns, the ministry has prematurely deemed the application complete.

As a result, Clearview is asking the province to retract its decision regarding the application.