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.
Copper thieves target Bluewater wind turbines
WINGHAM, ONT. – Thieves with a thirst for copper are now targeting wind turbines. Sometime between Feb. 21 and 26, copper thieves stole copper grounding wires from seven wind turbine sites in the Municipality of Bluewater. Police say the thieves forced their way into the base of the turbines and then stole copper grounding wires. The value of the copper is about $1,400, but the damage done amounts to over $7,000. Police say the vast majority of these copper thefts are . . . Complete story »
Andrea Horwath’s NDP putting political opportunism ahead of environment with Nation Rise spin?
Here’s an open letter to Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath and her party’s energy critic, Ian Arthurs. Ian, Andrea, I have talked to NDP MPPs as well as sending multiple information updates to your party pointing out the gaps, omissions, negative implications of the Nation Rise Wind project, other Ontario IWT projects and worldwide IWT updates. Now, following the revoking of the Nation Rise Wind project license, Ian, you are quoted as stating that the decision is “not supported by . . . Complete story »
Ontario faces court challenge over wind-farm’s cancellation
Builders of a nearly completed wind farm southeast of Ottawa have asked a judge to reverse Ontario’s cancellation of its operating permit amid mounting uncertainty about the future of renewable energy projects in the province. After concluding its turbines would harm local bat populations, Environment Minister Jeff Yurek revoked the Nation Rise Wind Farm’s permit on Dec. 4. That was just three months before they were to begin generating electricity: 16 of the planned 29 turbines were fully or partially . . . Complete story »
Wind farm owner launches court challenge against Ontario government
Forty kilometres to the south of Ottawa, a once-bustling construction site of partially built wind turbines has ground to a halt. Nation Rise Wind Farm, nestled among dairy farms and fields of corn, was three months away from completion when Ontario Environment Minister Jeff Yurek cancelled it earlier this month, citing concerns over possible risks to local bat populations. The company behind the site, EDP Renewables, must lay off the 200 employees working on Nation Rise just before the holidays, . . . Complete story »
Ontario cancels nearly built $200M wind farm over threat to bat populations
Ontario’s Environment Minister has cancelled a $200-million wind farm south of Ottawa – one almost fully constructed – because the giant turbines pose a threat to nearby bat populations. In a Dec. 4 letter, Minister Jeff Yurek said he’s revoking the approval given to the Nation Rise Wind Farm, which has already erected a number of the 29 planned turbines in a rural area near the villages of Crysler and Finch in the Township of North Stormont. The surprising decision comes about . . . Complete story »
Minister revokes approval for Nation Rise Wind Farm project; harm to bats key point
In a December 4 decision, an appeal of the Environmental Review Tribunal decision to issue a Renewable Energy Approval to Nation Rise Wind Farm GP Inc. has led to the project been revoked. Despite a full appeal of the Nation Rise wind power project by community group Concerned Citizens of North Stormont, which raised serious issues of concern about human health and the environment, and despite a final appeal and request for a Stay of construction, the 100-megawatt wind power . . . Complete story »
Nation Rise approval revoked by Environment minister to protect endangered bats; developer threatening legal action
NORTH STORMONT – Citing “irreversible harm” to endangered bats, Jeff Yurek, Ontario Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, has issued a decision revoking the Renewable Energy Approval for the Nation Rise wind power project being built in North Stormont, near Ottawa. “Perplexed” by the minister’s “unprecedented” move it says has forced a halt to construction, developer EDP Renewables Canada Ltd. is now assessing “potential legal actions.” The minister’s decision – a copy of which has been obtained by NVN – was in response . . . Complete story »
Province revokes approval for nearly-finished Nation Rise Wind Farm
The provincial government has withdrawn the renewable energy approval authorizing the creation of the Nation Rise Wind Farm. Environment Minister Jeff Yurek announced the decision in a letter to wind farm opponents, who had appealed the approval of the project to him. The withdrawal of the approval means the project will come to a halt, despite the fact the wind farm is largely complete, with several wind turbines erected and ready to begin generating power. Yurek said he decided to . . . Complete story »
The ‘relentless’ need council’s support, too
In his recent letter, Councillor Randy Douglas laments on the “lack of decorum” and calls for the residents to rally around and defeat those “unrelenting, multi-faceted, personal, rude, negative and toxic folks … attempting to advance their own agendas.“ It is public knowledge that legal bills are piling up within North Stormont for various reasons – but that is not the focus of this letter. That said, we want to acknowledge one newer councillor in particular. Councillor Roxane Villeneuve has listened . . . Complete story »
Why it makes sense to cancel wind and solar contracts in over-powered Ontario
The cost and source of Ontario’s electrical power has been a hot topic for years, but happily for the PC government, it had dropped from the headlines. That is, until Energy Minister Greg Rickford was forced to defend the cost of cancelling 750 wind and solar contracts. It ought to have been easy, because not going ahead with the extra generating capacity is the most rational thing the PCs have done on the electricity file. Ontario already generates more power . . . Complete story »
