Wind Power News: Ontario
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Water well investigation finally moving forward
The provincial government is getting proactive more than a year after it made an announcement to test the water quality of privately owned wells in North Kent, but one affected resident wants to see more community involvement. On Thursday, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton announced the government established a panel of five individual experts, appointed by the Minister of Health, to lead a water well investigation following long-time concerns from residents that their water is contaminated with Kettle Point black shale. . . . Complete story »
Province to begin testing water wells in North Kent; COVID-19 prevented previous investigation from getting off the ground
A promise made by Doug Ford in May 2018, shortly before being elected premier, to conduct a health hazard investigation over concerns about private water wells in the North Kent Wind farm area, is about to get underway. “I’m proud to say that testing is going to begin within the next number of days,” Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton told the Chatham Daily News Thursday in announcing the Ontario government has established a panel of five . . . Complete story »
Tree clearing to start for Broome County wind farm project
The company that’s planning to develop a 124-megawatt wind farm in eastern Broome County says crews will start cutting down trees to prepare for construction work. More than two dozen wind turbines are to be installed for the Bluestone Wind project in the towns of Windsor and Sanford. Northland Power of Toronto has announced tree clearing is scheduled to begin around February 8. In addition to 26 wind turbines, the project will include 13 miles of access roads, 36 miles . . . Complete story »
Mixed messages
An open letter: On Jan. 12, the Government of Ontario declared a state of emergency to address issues of the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Doug Ford stated the government is following the advice of the chief medical officer of health for the province, Dr. David Williams. In North Stormont, the Nation Rise Wind project, comprising 29 3.44-megawatt Enercon wind turbines, is being constructed and it is anticipated they will become operational soon. People in our community and beyond believe the Province of . . . Complete story »
Ontario town reignites opposition to wind farm after court overturns cancellation
Residents of an Ontario town still want the government to know they don’t want a wind farm after a court decision overturned a previous project’s cancellation. The community of North Stormont, Ont. has repeatedly asserted its unwillingness to host the Nation Rise Wind Farm, despite the previous Liberal government’s attempts. The project was cancelled in 2019 by Ontario Progressive Conservative Environment Minister Jeff Yurek due to concerns for local bat species, however this decision was reversed by the Ontario Superior . . . Complete story »
Questions stirred up by inaudible sound waves
Can inaudible sound waves caused by wind turbines lead to adverse health effects? Nobody can really answer that question, North Stormont council has been told by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit. “No conclusive statements are possible on wind turbines and infrasound in the absence of evidence,” Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis wrote in a letter to the municipality. Infrasound, also known as low-frequency sound, describes sound waves with a frequency below the lower limit of audibility, generally . . . Complete story »
IESO grants extension to EDP Renewable’s Nation Rise Wind Farm project
NORTH STORMONT – Work at EDP Renewable’s Nation Rise Wind Farm project is set to soon resume following a decision by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). The decision, obtained by the Standard-Freeholder, outlines that the IESO agreed to provide an extension to the project’s commercial operation date of June 17, 2021 and in doing so, provided EDP Renewables with additional time to complete it. The announcement by the IESO stems from a letter having been sent to various provincial officials . . . Complete story »
Turbine parts too heavy for Skyway Bridge will move through Bloomfield and Hwy 62
There’s no Santa Claus parade in Bloomfield this year, but residents may witness a procession of giant windmill parts leaving the County. The first of 18 trips to back the parts out of the County could begin Thursday on a new route. Though some residents saw windmill blades moving through this week, the remainder of the parts are too heavy to be taken over the Skyway Bridge while it is under construction. Council Tuesday night approved a bylaw authorizing permits . . . Complete story »
Shut it down
An open letter to the Ontario government: I am a resident of Crysler. My new view from my bedroom window is of one of the Nation Rise Wind Farm turbines. Can any of you honestly say this is OK? Who will guarantee that our health is not in jeopardy? Who will guarantee our well water will not be affected? Who will guarantee we won’t hear the swooshing of those enormous blades or be affected by infrasound? Who will guarantee our . . . Complete story »
Updated agreement for removal of turbines
An updated Road Users Agreement (RUA) for the decommissioning of industrial turbines in the White Pines Wind Energy Project in Athol and South Marysburgh is on its way for approval at October’s council meeting. Tanya Redden, the County’s construction supervisor, notes in her report at today’s committee of the whole meeting, that parties involved want decommissioning work to be started as soon as possible to avoid heavy loads during spring thaw when roads are more susceptible to damage. The Ministry . . . Complete story »
