Members of the Oppose Belwood Wind Farm were at Centre Wellington’s committee of the whole Monday to suggest ways council might deter energy companies from locating in the township.
They received a sympathetic hearing.
Belwood resident Janet Vallery said, “People should be aware this is an open area, up for grabs.” With setbacks for turbines at 550 metres, “all our rural environment is at risk.
The group had a list of issues council can raise when it discusses wind turbine plans with turbine company officials. She said it was written with Invenergy in mind, but council should consider all other applicants, too. There will be a municipal consultative process that will be initiated by the province through a “consultation form” it gives to energy companies. The group asked when that happens, council:
– declare its opposition;
– become actively engaged as a council in the process;
– provide an opportunity for the opposition group to comment on presentations made by the turbine companies;
– write a letter of opposition to the Ministry of Environment’s approvals branch and to the wind companies, and attach the letter of opposition to the formal consultation form companies must submit with their application;
– gain a commitment from the companies they will walk away from lease options for landowners who decide not to have turbines or the equipment on their property;
– liaise with the Grand River Conservation Authority and Ministry of Natural Resources on possible permits the companies will seek from them as part of the application process;
– require a peer review of all studies submitted with the application, at the companies’ expense;
– require buried transmission lines on township road allowances;
– require letters of credit to cover decomissioning costs;
– require substantial development charges on each turbine; and
– require a 5km setback for turbines on all private airstrips.
Lake Belwood is often used by planes for takeoff and landings. The Advertiser was unable to learn by deadline if it qualifies as an airstrip.
Vallery asked that council work with the other 54 municipalities that are fighting the projects. She asked council to require setbacks from important tourism and recreation sites such as golf courses, children’s camps, Maple Leaf Acres Campground, and Highland Pines Campground. She said wind turbines should not be placed where they are visible or audible from such sensitive land uses.
She asked appropriate setbacks be established from retirement communities such as Pine Meadows, plus Belwood, and other hamlets, as they have a broader population of residents, children, and the elderly, more sensitive to adverse health risks. She said setbacks of four kilometres should be considered.
She asked council to seek letters of credit for damage done to local roads during construction of wind turbines.
Vallery added, “The township has powers under the Municipal Act to create bylaws for the welfare and general good and protection of the people living within the municipality. Please consider creating new bylaws relating to wind industrialization directed to wind companies and landowners with turbines.”
She added council should encourage the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to take the lead in the process.
Vallery asked that council engage other municipalities challenging the province over the Green Energy Act. She noted Arran-Elderslie, West Grey, Grey Highlands, Brockton and Georgian Bluffs have already held meetings.
She said Mark David, of Arran Elderslie council, has said if there is no action to stop the province, “Rural Ontario as we know it will be destroyed forever if we sit back and do nothing.”
Letter nearly ready to go
Centre Wellington staff was directed at the last council meeting to prepare a letter to Minister of Environment John Gerretsen. That draft stated, “Since the community became aware of the project, our members of council have received a flurry of emails from residents expressing their opposition to the project for various reasons. In addition, delegations have addressed council with impressive presentations on serious concerns they have about the impact of the project.”
The letter took issue with the government taking over the approvals process after it earlier insisted municipalities develop their own policies.
“Our residents have been very frustrated by the approval process which your government has designed as the muicipality’s involvement is limited to addressing technical-type matters as set out in the consultation form for municipalities.”
The letter noted 1,000 residents attended Invenergy’s public meeting in Belwood March 9, and over 600 at a meeting on March 25.
That draft letter, which will be signed by Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj, added, “Minister, our residents have already sent to you many thoughtful and well researched concerns and more will be coming to you. Clearly, their submission warrants full evaluation and consideration.”
Ross-Zuj told Vallery council is working with AMO, and the county has two representatives there. She cited the letter to Gerretsen, and said over 200 people have now contacted the township, and been directed to Gerretsen’s office.
Council was unanimous in approving minor changes in the letter to be sent to Gerretsen.
