Tribunal rules in favour of wind farm
February 19, Peterborough Examiner
A bid by an area group to stop the construction of a wind turbine facility southwest of Peterborough has failed.
Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal ruled Thursday that the appeal by Manvers Wind Concerns and Cham Shan Temple to stop the planned wind farm would not go forward.
In a 207-page written ruling, the tribunal stated that concerns raised about the facility were not enough to stop its development.
“In summary, the tribunal finds that the evidence does not demonstrate that the project will cause serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life or the natural environment of the traditional lands of the First Nations participants,” the ruling states, rejecting the complainants’ arguments.
Sumac Ridge Wind Inc. was granted a licence to operates a Class 4 wind facility at 801 Ballyduff Rd., Pontypool in 2012. The project is to have five turbines, with access roads, cabling and a switching station.
The appeal was filed in 2013.
Wind developer ‘pleased’
“We’re obviously pleased with the decision from the ERT,” stated Ian MacRae, president of wpd Canada, the company behind the project. “Sumac Ridge has gone through months of review and scrutiny, both through the Ministry of Environment approval process and the ERT appeal.”
The tribunal heard evidence at hearings in Pontypool, Curve Lake and Toronto on several days over the past few months – Nov. 17-20 and 24, Dec. 2-5, 9-12 and 19, and Jan. 5 and 23.
Other participants in the process included Cransley Home Farm Ltd., Hiawatha First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, the City of Kawartha Lakes and the Save the Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition.
These opponents to the plan claimed the project would cause harm to human health, plants, animals and the environment.
Diane Chen of Cham Shan Temple told the tribunal that the wind farm would affect the under-construction temple on Ski Hill Rd. The Buddhist temple is intended to be a major tourism draw for the region once constructed, but the wind farm would lead to distraction as visitors try to meditate, she said.
The tribunal also heard from other experts who talked about the impact of the facility on groundwater and natural wildlife habitats. However, the tribunal rejected those concerns.
Testimony ‘sincere’
“While raising an important concern that the “balance of life” would be disrupted, the participants did not provide any specifics about how this would occur because of the project,” the ruling states. “Their testimony was sincere and heartfelt, but it does not constitute evidence demonstrating that the project will cause the harm they allege.”
MacRae said the project, which is expected to generate 26,497,200 kWh, will now go ahead.
5 Comments
BJOH
It seems like we live in a State controlled environment as in every appeal put forward, it is dismissed by Gov’t appointed group of fools. It is communism at our front door. Yes, the Liberal Party was voted to govern, rather destroy our Province for 4 years but, we have seen enough corruption, scandals, lying, election fraud, blatant waste of taxpayers $$$ and services cuts because of it. Time for the citizens to rise up.
ScepticalGord
Kudos to the Cham Shan Temple and their allies for putting up such a strong challenge at the Sumac Ridge ERT. They must be extremely disappointed with the outcome, especially after already investing so much time and money in their development.
However, the Chinese Pheasants have come home to roost.
I’ve been to almost every IWT town hall, public meeting, rally and protest and I can honestly say that I have never once seen a person that appeared to be of Chinese / Asian descent at any of these events. When I bring up the topic of IWTs to any of my Asian friends and acquaintances, all I get is the blankest of blank stares. This issue was not on their radar when they, along with their uninformed urban neighbours, gave Kathleen Wynne her minor majority.
So, how will this unfortunate ERT decision play out now?
An appeal of sorts, maybe?
Will Cham Shan follow through on their threat to abandon their project if the wind turbines go up?
Will the Chinese Community at large get wind of this apparent slight to their culture and become engaged in things that effect more than life at Spadina and Dundas?
Will Sumac Ridge be renamed Cham Sham?
Will the Pheasants ever leave?
Greg Latiak
The final line about the vast amount of power the project would have generated seemed a bit exaggerated, to say the least. Five turbines are more likely to generate 10-20 megawatts/hour — even running flat out it will take a while to generate 26 gigawatts. Or is that just the amount of money expected to change hands?
Richard Mann
I can guarantee this project will never happen.
As soon as rich people on the Oak Ridges Moraine see what a real turbine looks like in their community, they’ll stop it.
You will notice that Ontario has delayed this appeal a long time, as long as possible, to avoid a fight.
ScepticalGord
Hope you are right Richard, but:
The Cham Shan Temple ARE the rich people on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and they, along with First Nation and municipal support, couldn’t stop it.
It’s at the point now that any ERT win by any anti-IWT group would be seen as an anomaly and would garner unwanted main stream media attention. That’s something the Liberals don’t want to happen. Leave the dumbed down public in the dark.
The Wynne government is going to make sure every ERT decision goes their way, lest all the previous two dozen or so ERT losers scream favouritism.
That would open a whole new can of worms.