March 19, 2014
Ontario
Ontario
Group wants wind referendum; New community group calls on Southgate Council to hold plebiscite on wind farms
Kevin Bernard | March 19, 2014 | www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca
Kevin Bernard | March 19, 2014 | www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca
Southgate council will look at a request on Wednesday to have a referendum on the October 27th municipal election ballot, about wind turbines in the community.
A fledgling group has organized a meeting for March 24th in the Dundalk Arena at 7 PM, for anyone wanting to learn more about turbines and solar projects proposed by Samsung Energy.
SCAT – or Southgate Community Against Turbines – spokesperson Louise Morfitt says a lot of people don’t know how large these turbines are, how some may have their health affected and what impacts they will have on the community.
Southgate is considering a motion to be a willing host for the project proposed by Samsung at its Council meeting on Wednesday.
An earlier council session ended with staff being asked for more information.
Morfitt says to get a question on the ballot this fall about whether Southgate should be a willing host, it has to be requested and approved six months before the vote.
She says if council rejects her request, other members of SCAT will likely make their own requests for a referendum.
Morefitt says Samsung talks about local workers being involved in the construction.
However she says these are specialized jobs and the company is bringing in workers from outside the area for similar projects it is working on now.
Samsung Energy is proposing nearly 50 giant wind turbines in the township, but still has to win provincial approval for the estimated 150 million dollar project.
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