Environmental impacts from Thunder Bay area wind “farm” would have been significant and irreversible
TB Newswatch, February 9, 2016
THUNDER BAY — Horizon Wind has withdrawn its appeal to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, effectively ending its decade-long pursuit of a wind farm on the Nor’Wester escarpment.
The company filed the appeal in July of 2014 after the Ontario Power Authority terminated its Feed-In-Tariff contract, citing a lack of progress on the proposed 32-megawatt wind turbine farm.
Horizon had been fighting a Fort William First Nation court injunction over land rights and the company had to drop a $126-million lawsuit it filed against the City of Thunder Bay over the project’s location.
It was also facing outspoken opposition from Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro and a grassroots mobilization of neighbours and conservationists.
Nor’Wester Escarpment Protection Committee president John Beals estimates his group has spent $150,000 and countless volunteer hours to oppose the wind farm.
“Fort William First Nation has done the lion’s share of the work with their concerns and we’re proud to take our hat off to them and say, ‘job well done,'” Beals said.
“Their rights are being acknowledged today.”
The company filed the appeal in July of 2014 after the Ontario Power Authority terminated its Feed-In-Tariff contract, citing a lack of progress on the proposed 32-megawatt wind turbine farm.
Horizon had been fighting a Fort William First Nation court injunction over land rights and the company had to drop a $126-million lawsuit it filed against the City of Thunder Bay over the project’s location.
It was also facing outspoken opposition from Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro and a grassroots mobilization of neighbours and conservationists.
Nor’Wester Escarpment Protection Committee president John Beals estimates his group has spent $150,000 and countless volunteer hours to oppose the wind farm.
“Fort William First Nation has done the lion’s share of the work with their concerns and we’re proud to take our hat off to them and say, ‘job well done,'” Beals said.
“Their rights are being acknowledged today.”
Read the full story here.
3 Comments
Gord Schneider
Yu have fought the good fight and I stand with you anytime on these issues.
ScepticalGord
Too bad none of the Fort William First Nation common sense and goodwill to neighbours has rubbed off on the Henvey Inlet First Nation north of Parry Sound at Britt.
Mother Earth be damned, Greed Energy is full speed ahead here on the shores of Georgian Bay where 150 to 200 wind turbines, when built, will be visible to all who cruise the 30,000 Island World Biosphere Reserve.
Won’t be able to talk them out of it, however, they spent the money in their minds back in 2010:
http://www.henveyinletwind.com/
Richard Mann
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