July 17, 2022
Newfoundland and Labrador

Opposition mounts against Port of Stephenville wind farm proposal

Opposition Mounts Against Port of Stephenville Wind Farm Proposal | VOCM | Jul 15, 2022 | vocm.com

Opposition is mounting to a wind farm proposed for the Port au Port Peninsula, the first phase of which will see 164 turbines built to power a hydrogen operation based in the port of Stephenville.

Chair of the Cabox Aspiring Geopark, Paul Wylezol says they’re putting together a proposal for UNESCO to have the Port au Port region formally recognized as an area of unique geological interest similar to the Discovery Geopark on the Bonavista Peninsula.

Wylezol says area residents were blindsided by the proposal, about which they knew nothing until media reports started surfacing about the wind farm being registered through the Environmental Assessment Process.

Businessman John Risely with World Energy GH2, the company behind the proposal, met with area residents last week to provide information and answer questions about the plan.

Wylezol says it appears as though the Port au Port proposal is just the beginning.

He says five sites have been identified for future development including the Lewis Hills and Blomidon Mountains and the coastline south of the Highlands towards Cap Anguille.

Wylezol says the biggest concern is the lack of information.

He says they’re looking for information on benefits, impacts, and liabilities. “Why the secrecy?” asks Wylezol.

The deadline for public comment on the proposal is July 27th and Wylezol is asking residents to get involved.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2022/07/17/opposition-mounts-against-port-of-stephenville-wind-farm-proposal/