February 28, 2024
Ontario

Chatsworth remains unwilling to host wind turbine projects

Nathan Shubert | Feb 28, 2024 | bayshorebroadcasting.ca

Chatsworth is keeping its stance it will not host any wind turbine projects.

Mayor Scott Mackey says council decided to maintain its unwilling hosts status to any wind turbine projects during a meeting on Feb. 21.

“Chatsworth has been not a willing host for a number of years now and that was confirmed by council on Wednesday night that we continue to be not a willing host,” says Mackey.

This comes as the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is proposing moving forward with three new wind turbine projects.

In a letter from the Multi-Municipal Energy Working Group, which consists of representatives from across the region, the IESO is calling for new energy generation in the form of 2,000 megawatts produced by mostly wind and solar by 2030.

“I think there has been a lot of health studies done and I think the jury is still out on how safe these are,” says Mackey.

Mackey says council has been made aware of concerns surrounding wind turbines, including the impact on the health of those who live around them. There are currently no wind turbines in the township.

“The setbacks of turbines currently in Ontario is 550 meters from a dwelling and the information that we received, we don’t feel that’s sufficient to protect the health and well being of people living in close proximity. Lots of studies are saying, especially with the wind turbines getting bigger, that the setback should be two kilometres. We don’t have that sort of setback in our township from houses to be able to entertain that,” says Mackey.

He says the municipality will, however, look at other forms of supporting green energy as long as it is safe.

“We have got a number of solar projects that are within the township and we certainly supported those,” says Mackey.

Working with the Multi-Municipal Energy Working Group, Mackey says they will continue to work with green energy projects as long as they are convinced they are safe and will not cause any harm to residents.

“Ontario is a big province and there is lots of areas within the province where proper setbacks could be created,” says Mackey.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2024/02/28/chatsworth-remains-unwilling-to-host-wind-turbine-projects/