Eastern AgriNews, October 2015
by Nelson Zandbergen
Finch- Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne will not intervene to quash proposed wind turbine projects currently being evaluated for the Township of North Stormont and the Municipality of South Dundas, despite her earlier stated position that communities not wanting such developments shouldn’t be forced to receive them.
The councils of both municipalities have declared themselves unwilling hosts to wind projects in recent months.
But the premier, in reply to a question posed by The AgriNews at the International Plowing Match September 22, made clear that she won’t veto the projects in officially unwilling communities.
“We’ve been clear, it’s not a veto… but what we are seeing is that there is a much more collaborative process going on between proponents and municipalities,” said Wynne, explaining that her government does put “an emphasis on the municipality being willing.”*
Said the premier, “You will know that the process, as it has been changed by our government, is that now there is much more weighting toward the municipality. In terms of procurement, there is much more of an emphasis on the municipality being willing, we have already changed the process, and I think that has changed the way turbines are sited.”**
Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal then jumped in to highlight how the Wynne government has imposed restrictions on the siting of solar projects. …
“I never use the term solar farms because it’s the wrong term to use, they are solar generating entities.”***
Editor’s notes:
*False. Municipal support is just one factor in the bid process. Proponents simply find other strong sources of points such as First Nation support, or a lower bid price.
**This is false. Municipalities in the 2015 bid process often DIDN’T EVEN KNOW where turbines were to be located, and the proponents were not obligated to provide that information or anything else such as environmental impact studies, before being asked to say yes or no.
***So wind “farms” are now “wind power generating entities”?
10 Comments
Sommer
Premier Wynne has never responded to complaints from victims, regarding the siting decisions of turbines or substations and switching yards that were made prior to her decision to make siting a “much more collaborative process… between proponents and municipalities. ” These people have been abandoned by her wilful neglect.
The incursion of turbines and their infrastructure on rural residents has created a dreadful reality for thousands of rural people and she consistently refuses to address this extremely distressing situation.
Her unwillingness to acknowledge that going ahead with these projects, before having sound scientific studies to prove that these turbines and their infrastructure were safe for nearby residents, shows a complete lack of compassion.
Has any victim ever received a response directly from her, to their attempts to communicate with her what their ‘on the ground’ reality is like as they struggle with adverse health effects or financial impacts?
John Vincent
More BS from the Wynne (Wind?) gang.
Its about time they stopped calling all this green energy nonsense euphamistic term “farms”. (something I’ve touched on before), but the term “entities”. Huh? Where did that come from? Obviously some one who doesn’t know the electrical generating industry. In the industry, as well as else where, these “entities” are known as “plants” or “stations”
Barbara
Each wind and solar project is a power plant.
It’s so much nicer to call them “farms”. Power plant has an industrial meaning and not something you want to live near?
John Vincent
You say tounge in cheek.
Gord Schneider
This Person Wynne is the epitomy of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She has brought this and many other serious issues into our midst when they were never wanted. She has continually lied to the people of rural Ontario about ‘Green’ Power. All probably because she thinks we don’t think right and she feels she has to correct that or destroy it.
We must remain strong in the face of this mostrosity. Two more years? What else can she do to us that she hasn’t already? The next election will send her and her cronies into oblivion. As St. Paul said before his death, “I have fought the good fight…………”. Stay strong people.
Johana
Don’t forget it’s both the LIBERAL Red King AS WELL AS the LIBERAL Red Queen [Dalton McG AND Kathy W] who are saying “off with their heads” to people like me, surrounded by 18 IWTs jammed in within a 3 km radius, sitting here with ears stuffed, head like concrete, with stomach churning nausea.
How old was St. Paul when he was wiped out? At 85, I am working my butt off to stay as healthy as I can before going to my last sleep the way my grandmother did at 99. Any tips for accomplishing this?
BTW, I HAVE been selling my house since Dec 2009 [6 years soon] with no success. But, NO ONE who has driven by would even make an offer.
Greg Latiak
One wonders how many are going up in and around Oakville? Or Mississauga? Or anywhere in the populated parts of the GTA? Or is rural Ontario the only acceptable sacrifice zone for the Red Queen and her corporate backers? Even though a not insignificant part of the power generated is lost going down the long extension cord… But its not really about the electricity, is it?
John Vincent
HGreg: A retorical question to be sure, but can we all spell “ZERO”. they tried that off the Scarborough Bluffs a few years ago. Mcguinty was in the throne at that times and the project was vetoed.
No, its not about electricity. It’s a feel good thing for the urbanites who don’t know whats going on under their nosesnad its money …money …money to the developers putting these things in. Oh, and dare I say it, a little to the side the the sympathetic party members?
Barbara
WINDPOWER Monthly, Feb.28, 2014
‘First Nations turn to wind for independence’
Article provides some background information on First Nations and wind energy.
http://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1281869/first-nations-turn-wind-independence
Pat Cusack
Imagine how good it can get when Mz Wnne has Justins help.