December 2, 2015
Ontario

Wind farm lease liability a concern

By Peter Jackson | Bayshore Broadcasting | December 2, 2015 | www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca

The Past President of the Huron Perth Landowners’ Association is concerned for property owners, now that more legal actions have been brought against wind turbine construction liens in Huron County.

Dave Hemingway tells Bayshore Broadcasting News that six liens totaling more than $32 million had been placed on properties in the St. Columban wind project since June.

He tells us in October when he checked documentation filed with the Superior Court of Justice in Goderich, three legal actions had been initiated.

Hemingway then discovered in November that the number had doubled to cover all six liens.

The province’s Construction Lien Act allows construction contractors to sue for money owed by sub-contractors when a job is left unfinished.

He’s worried that landowners will eventually be held liable under the Act for any debts incurred, if settlements can’t be reached.

Hemingway explains that property owners are listed as defendants in at least three of the actions.

He notes that one case filed in early June lists a turbine sub-contractor as the plaintiff, with 21 landowners, the general contractor, four wind turbine companies and four financial institutions as defendants.

Hemingway repeats his advice to landowners to read carefully any lease agreement presented to them for wind turbine construction, and to seek legal advice when in doubt.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/02/wind-farm-lease-liability-a-concern/