Wind Power News: Canada
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Poor response to Huron County wind turbine health study
The Huron County Health Unit’s study of any relationship between wind turbines and health complaints won’t be as detailed as they had hoped. The County’s Acting Medical Officer of Health says of the five thousand people who live close enough to a turbine in Huron County to be eligible for the study, slightly over 100 registered for the study. Doctor Maarten Bokhout says that means they won’t be able to do the rigorous study that would have provided a reasonable . . . Complete story »
Wind energy company accuses PC government of aiding Liberal ‘cover up’
A wind energy company suing the province of Ontario for $500 million over the axing of offshore projects is accusing Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government of continuing a Liberal “cover up.” Trillium Wind Power Corp. says Queen’s Park is thwarting the politically sensitive case by blocking access to potentially relevant documents as the firm seeks compensation for four projects that were never built. A trial has twice been delayed in an action that dates to 2011, when Liberal Dalton . . . Complete story »
Tories moving on health hazard study into wind turbines
The Ontario government appears to be ready to move ahead with a health hazard study into wind turbines in Chatham-Kent. The issue was highlighted during the provincial election earlier this year, with Premier Doug Ford pledging to undertake an investigation into local wind farms and their issues with neighbouring water wells. Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton on Thursday explained what action has taken place, after Essex MPP Taras Natyshak raised the issue during Question Period at Queen’s Park on Oct. 16. . . . Complete story »
CAQ government looking to abandon $600M wind farm on Quebec’s North Shore
The Quebec government wants out of the contentious Apuiat wind farm project and has tapped Hydro-Québec to come up with an exit strategy, Radio-Canada has learned. The Apuiat project, first proposed in 2015, is to produce an estimated 200 megawatts annually from about 50 wind turbines on Quebec’s North Shore, near the town of Port-Cartier. Backed by the former Liberal government, the $600-million project was highly criticized by the CAQ’s François Legault during the election campaign. “We’re not going to . . . Complete story »
CAQ government mulls future of Apuiat wind-farm proposal
QUEBEC – The Coalition Avenir Québec government has asked Hydro-Québec to come up with a possible Plan B to replace the Apuiat wind farm project near Port Cartier on Quebec’s North Shore. But the partners in the project, wind power giant Boralex and the Innu Nation, are furious, saying the new government did not give them a chance to explain the plan before moving to put it on ice. They say if the government does kill it, Quebec will be missing . . . Complete story »
Trudeau imposes carbon tax, with rebates, on four provinces
Justin Trudeau is imposing a carbon tax on provinces that have balked at implementing their own, doubling down on what will be a core fight in Canada’s next election. Trudeau announced a plan Tuesday to tax industrial emitters and fuels in holdout provinces. The fuel surcharge alone will raise about C$2.3 billion ($1.8 billion) in revenue next year, rising to C$5.6 billion by 2022-2023. The baseline price on carbon will be C$20 per metric tonne initially, rising to C$50 by . . . Complete story »
Saskatchewan selects wind farm project
Saskatchewan’s largest wind farm project should be operating by 2021. Environment minister Dustin Duncan, who is also responsible for SaskPower, said last week Potentia Renewables was selected from among 29 candidates to build a 200-megawatt facility just south of Assiniboia. The Gold South wind farm would include up to 60 turbines in the rural municipalities of Lake of the Rivers and Stonehenge. The project has been in the works since 2009, according to the company website, and will be located . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine substations targeted for copper wire theft in Huron County
HURON COUNTY, ON—A total of nine thefts over two months have police urging the public to take note and be aware of suspicious activity. Thieves have been targeting hydro / wind turbine substations to steal copper wiring in Bluewater and Huron East. Six cases have been investigated in Bluewater and three cases in Huron East. In some instances, the thieves stole about 40 feet of copper wire which has a street value of $100. In other cases thieves made off . . . Complete story »
Cleanup of wind and solar sites won’t land at Alberta farmers’ feet
With a growing number of wind and solar developments studding Alberta’s landscape, the province has enshrined new rules that ensure operators – not landowners – are ultimately responsible for cleaning them up. The province has had renewable energy development for over two decades, but landowner advocates have more recently grumbled about insufficient rules. For one, farmers and landowners wanted to make sure their property is returned to its prior state when renewable facilities expired. The oil and gas industry has had such . . . Complete story »
Wind change takes time: MPP
Several people at the meeting have left their homes because of health effects they say are a result of living too close to wind turbines. Martina Heyward, who lives near two of the wind turbines in the Durham East wind farm, claimed she sold her 50-member goat herd due to effects of living too close to wind turbines. She has now lost her source of income and says she also suffers health effects. “I am on your side. I’ve been on your side since 2011 and I plan to stay on your side,” Walker said, but added, “It’s not going to get turned off in the first month, it’s going to get turned off in the second month. I hope all of you thought it was a good step getting rid of the Green Energy Act which all of you have been asking us to do.” Complete story »
