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Protesters attempt to stop wind farm work by entering site
Credit: Shana Grey • Published Dec 10, 2025 • tj.news ~~
A group of residents living near the Brighton Mountain Wind Farm construction site say they’ve been deliberately entering the area to halt blasting operations to force J.D. Irving Ltd. to pause work out of concern for safety.
The group, led by Jean Arnold of Knowlesville, says four residents walked onto the site – south of Juniper, about 20 kilometres east of Hartland – on Dec. 4 after learning blasting was scheduled to begin in December. Under safety rules, crews cannot detonate charges if unauthorized people are present.
“So, for one day, we got it delayed, and maybe other people will be going out every day,” she said.
In a statement, J.D. Irving confirmed construction is underway and cautioned residents against entering the area.
“Unauthorized access creates serious hazards for workers and visitors, and additional measures have been taken to secure the area,” said Anne McInerney, JDI’s vice-president of communications.
She did not respond to a follow-up request for details on what additional measures the company has put in place or how it intends to handle further disruptions, but it appears security and the entrance and signage are among those measures.
According to a post on the Carleton County Wind Farm Updates & Concerns Facebook page, run by Arnold and a few other organizers, a larger group, made up of 16 children and seven adults, returned to the site on Dec. 8, but were stopped at the access road by security and a posted private-property sign.
The post said the group shifted gears that day, parking along Highway 107, where they sang and prayed.
Arnold said the group plans to continue to exploring legal options to challenge the $550-million, 58-turbine project that received provincial approval in 2024 following a comprehensive environmental impact assessment that included 29 conditions related to noise, water, wetlands, wildlife monitoring and eventual decommissioning.
It is being built on privately held land and is expected to produce 200 megawatts of electricity in its first phase, with potential expansion to 350 megawatts.
The project is part of the company’s push for industrial self-supply and follows its request to lawmakers for changes to the Electricity Act to allow companies to generate and use their own power.
Residents opposed continue to argue it could impact wildlife habitat, winter denning areas, streams and well-water supplies.
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