Ontario wind farm approval process “appalling” says MP

Problems with noise, vibration and disturbed wells causes concerns about how projects get approved, and whether the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is actually regulating anything

Residents protesting North Kent II construction — 12 wells may have been affected by pile-driving for turbines

September 20, 2017
An article in the current edition of Ontario Farmer notes “growing concerns” about the impact of wind turbine construction activities on well water for residents in Chatham-Kent.
From the article by Jeffrey Carter:

The MP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington said provincial approval process for wind turbines in Ontario is “appalling”, especially in how it has impacted the northern part of his riding. Dave Van Kesteren said the federal approval process for pipelines is far more rigorous. “I don’t see that happening for wind farms,” Van Kesteren said. “Let’s go through a proper process and find out if there are concerns.”

Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope was asked about the interference with area water wells related to construction on the North Kent II wind power project, where as many as nine wells (it is now 12) wells are said to have been contaminated since pile-driving operations began.

Hope said the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has so far only reported six complaints that may be linked to the project. He also said the wells are not contaminated. Rather, the complaints relate to water turbidity and turbid water does not pose a health risk, he said.

Kevin Jakubec, spokesman for the Water Wells First group said there have been 11 complaints sent to the MOECC so far and others are expected. In three cases the water has been choked off and families are relying on temporary tanks and delivered water.

Earlier this week, power developer Samsung, while still refusing to accept responsibility for the water problems, said that the water it is shipping to families is for general use only but not for drinking.
Last week, the Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group, a coalition of several Ontario municipalities concerned about and affected by wind power operations, put out a news release demanding the MOECC take action.
“The Multi-municipal Wind Turbine Working Group requests the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to respect the urgent need of the citizens of North Kent and the First Nation clans to see this issue remedied at once,” the Group stated in the news release, signed by Grey Highlands Deputy Mayor Stewart Halliday.
Yesterday, September 19, the MOECC responded to a complaint and was prepared to take water samples from a home for testing, but refused because Mr Jakubec of Water Wells First was present.
The MOECC’s mandate is “Leading to healthier communities and economic prosperity through the protection of Ontario’s air, land and water.”

Wind Concerns Ontario urges anyone with well water problems in Chatham-Kent to contact the Ministry via the local office or by calling the Spills Action line at 1-800-268-6060. Be sure to get an Incident Report number from the staff person, and keep a log of your calls and comments. 

 

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24 Comments

  • Notinduttondunwich
    Posted September 21, 2017 11:37 am 0Likes

    Not quite sure why MOECC would refuse to sample water because of the presence a WWF member…???? Explanation of why this occurred anyone??? Was there a confrontation or threats by locals??? Why would they refuse to sample???

    • Barbara
      Posted September 22, 2017 9:30 pm 0Likes

      No witnesses? Samples can get lost, spilled, diluted or switched?
      Photos needed before leaving the house/property?

  • Notinduttondunwich
    Posted September 21, 2017 1:42 pm 0Likes
    • Sommer
      Posted September 21, 2017 8:04 pm 0Likes

      “Will Premier Wynne call for a public inquiry into why the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change at every opportunity to collect evidence of groundwater contamination in Chatham-Kent refuses to do so? It has been brought to the attention of the MOECC for nearly a year now, the serious degradation of groundwater quality in Dover township and the presence of black shale particles in the affected wells.”
      We also need to know why the MOECC and/or the MOH refuses to test for infrasound inside peoples’ homes, from turbines that surround their home or were sited too close to their home.

      • Sommer
        Posted October 3, 2017 8:24 am 0Likes

        Is this another story “story of government failure, intransigence, unpreparedness, delay, inaction and environmental injustice”?
        Flint Water Crisis Inquiry Finds State Ignored Warning Signs
        By JULIE BOSMANMARCH 23, 2016
        Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan listened as the Flint Water Advisory Task Force reported its findings on Wednesday. CreditConor Ralph/The Flint Journal, via Associated Press
        An independent panel has concluded that disregard for the concerns of poor and minority people contributed to the government’s slow response to complaints from residents of Flint, Mich., about the foul and discolored water that was making them sick, determining that the crisis “is a story of government failure, intransigence, unpreparedness, delay, inaction and environmental injustice.”
        The panel, which was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder in October, when he first urged Flint’s nearly 100,000 residents to stop drinking the city’s tap water, laid blame for the water problems at the feet of government employees on every level.
        Its report was released at a news conference Wednesday in Flint.
        It particularly focused on state employees: analysts in charge of supervising water quality, state-appointed emergency managers who prized frugality over public safety, and staff members in the governor’s office who adopted a “whack a mole” attitude to beat away persistent reports of problems.
        But the report also concluded that, “The facts of the Flint water crisis lead us to the inescapable conclusion that this is a case of environmental injustice.”
        In making that declaration, the five-member panel put a spotlight on a long-running civil rights issue: whether minorities and the poor are treated differently when it comes to environmental matters, relegating them to some of the most dangerous places in the country: flood prone areas of New Orleans that were devastated after Hurricane Katrina; highly polluted parts of Detroit and the Bronx; and “Cancer Alley” in Louisiana, where residents who live near factories suffer disproportionately from disease.
        It also validated complaints long argued by many Flint residents but largely dismissed by Mr. Snyder and others: that race and poverty contributed to the often scornful reactions to their complaints.
        “Flint residents, who are majority black or African-American and among the most impoverished of any metropolitan area in the United States, did not enjoy the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards as that provided to other communities,” the report concluded.

  • Notinduttondunwich
    Posted September 21, 2017 1:53 pm 0Likes
    • Barbara
      Posted September 22, 2017 10:24 pm 0Likes

      We had quicksand get into the best of our two driven wells which could not be pumped out. Ruined the pump, got into the pressure tank and the hot water tank. Casing broke or something shifted underground.
      City folks don’t know anything about water wells!

  • Richard Mann
    Posted September 21, 2017 4:51 pm 0Likes

    Still waiting for Huron County Health Unit…
    An investigation into health impacts of wind turbines was initiated in March 2016. (Ontario’s HPPA, Health Protection and Promotion Act). Since then we have had one delay after another, and still no remedy for those living under turbines.
    As of Aug 14, 2017, Erica Clark informed me they have heard back University of Waterloo ethics and have submitted another ethics application to address concerns raised. Meanwhile I have been told that all communications of the ethics board, including the names an positions of the applicants, is confidential.
    I am asking for transparency, and for immediate action on this urgent health issue.
    For further details, including correspondence and my own research on Infra sound and wind turbines, please see my web page below.
    Sincerely,
    Richard Mann
    Associate Professor, Computer Science
    University of Waterloo
    http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~mannr

    • Richard Mann
      Posted September 21, 2017 4:53 pm 0Likes

      Update: September 19, 2017.
      Reply from Waterloo was received, “requesting some final wording changes in the study”.
      In other words, we’re still waiting!!!

  • Notinduttondunwich
    Posted September 21, 2017 8:48 pm 0Likes

    Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
    Leading to healthier communities and economic prosperity through the protection of Ontario’s air, land and water.
    Minister
    Chris Ballard
    Yup Sommer…. ontario government website…. says right there!!! Even gots Mr. Ballards mugshot!!!

  • Notinduttondunwich
    Posted September 21, 2017 8:50 pm 0Likes
  • Barbara
    Posted September 22, 2017 6:14 am 0Likes

    UN Environment / Climate Initiatives Platform
    REN 21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century), Paris, France, launched 2005
    About the rapid global transition to renewable energy.
    Members include:
    UNEP, UNDP,UNIDO
    Greenpeace
    ICLEI
    CAN
    WWF
    WCRE
    WRI
    GWEC
    WWEA
    The World Bank
    And other organizations
    Click on member name:
    http://www.ren21.net/members

    • Barbara
      Posted September 22, 2017 12:21 pm 0Likes

      UN Sustainable Development
      Partnerships for SDGs
      REN 21, Secretariat (France)
      Major Groups include: Greenpeace (Netherlands)
      Can also search for Greenpeace from this webpage.
      http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/partnership/?p=1619

    • Barbara
      Posted September 22, 2017 4:06 pm 0Likes

      UN Environment
      From the Accredited Organizations list:
      146, Global Wind Energy Council, Belgium
      149, Greenpeace International, Netherlands
      275, Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), France
      367, World Resources Institute (WRI), U.S.
      Canada has 13 organizations.
      North America has 75 organizations.
      http://unep.org/about/majorgroups/resources/list-accredited-organizations
      Website addresses are included.

  • Notinduttondunwich
    Posted September 22, 2017 4:14 pm 0Likes

    https://youtu.be/X3rRnCS5Ews
    Everyones homework this weekend to share with as many people as possible…… go!!!

  • Stan Thayer
    Posted September 22, 2017 5:07 pm 0Likes

    During the past many years I have tried to under stand the debate surrounding IWT’S. Being able to access information from all sides only increases my confusion. They are not needed in southern Ontario!
    This I know but there they are!
    The local economy gets a short term boost during construction but the long term costs are staggering for the taxpayers.
    Offshore international corporations seem to be blackmailing the Ontario provincial government much like a cheap organized crime movie on TV.
    The air, land and water are being compromised by the same corporations that are supplying the remedies.
    Those government entities sworn to protect us are taking paychecks as blood money and causing confusion to propagate the situation.
    Most are protected from litigation by their position and will never be prosecuted even if an attempt is considered.
    This IWT scenario is similar to the Exxon fiasco and the office worker that was found guilty by accident.
    This Liberal government has shredded documents, wiped hard drives and produced misleading studies all without any chance of retribution.
    Just like the cheap organized crime movies on TV.
    How I wish I could change the channel!
    Stan the power man

    • Barbara
      Posted September 23, 2017 3:12 pm 0Likes

      The root cause of problems has to be identified.
      IMO, Ontario has been implementing the U.N global agenda with such things as renewable energy, energy efficiency, demand side management, carbon tax, cap-and-trade, green bonds, etc.
      U.N. publications are filled with the U.N. global agenda.
      U.N. publications have stated that the cost of electricity will rise in order to accomplish these goals.
      This is carried out through various U.N. agencies and organizations and has been years in the making.
      NGOs have also aided in carrying out the U.N. agenda.

  • Sommer
    Posted September 25, 2017 7:03 pm 0Likes

    Chatham Kent went forward with Samsung and Pattern, after the situation in Huron County, regarding harm from noise, low frequency noise modulations and infrasound was being reported by residents who noticed changes to their health once the turbines were turned on. The siting of turbines too close to or in some cases surrounding peoples’ homes went forward in Huron County despite the many fine people who tried to prevent this from happening. Both the wind company and the MOECC insisted the siting of turbines and the substation would not cause harm. The parallels are
    profound.

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