Council's objection to Quixote One project ignored | By Lisa Umholtz, Kincardine News | Wednesday, August 13, 2014 | www.kincardinenews.com
The Municipality of Kincardine council is seeking legal advice regarding the Leader Resources Services Quixote One Wind Energy turbine project just south of Inverhuron.
CAO Murray Clarke announced during a recent council meeting that council’s opposition to the project had been ignored.
“On July 24 we received notice that (the Quixote One project) was approved,” Clarke said referring to the renewable energy approval (REA) of the 2.5MW turbine.
The single turbine will be located about 950 metres southwest of the junction of Bruce Road 15 and 23, east of Inverhuron. The location of the turbine conflicts with Kincardine’s setback policy. However the Kincardine-based company has no requirement to follow municipal policies, while it must comply with provincial policies.
“Council took the position that the Municipality of Kincardine was opposed to the project,” Clarke said.
Council penned a letter in early May 2014 to express that council was “flatly opposed” to the project, said Clarke. Although Leader Resources had received the letter, the approval for the project went ahead without any response to council’s concerns.
“Council’s objection was ignored, rejected with no explanation,” Clarke said.
Clarke said he did not believe that Leader Resources committed any procedural flaw by neither posting nor responding to the letter, however he added that this was “not a positive message at all.”
“Does council want staff to seek legal advice on our options?” Deputy Mayor Anne Eadie asked.
Councillors Jacqueline Faubert and Randy Roppell said they would support an appeal process.
“Except that it’s a waste of our time and money,” councillor Ken Craig said. “Whomever delivered that approval is well aware of that.”
Councillor Maureen Couture was in agreement with Craig.
“We won’t win it,” she said.
Council agreed to explore its legal options.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/08/14/quixote-one-wind-energy-turbine-project-moves-ahead-without-responding-to-councils-objections/