by PATRICIA GROTENHUIS
A confrontational ratepayers meeting in the town of Durham last night left Municipality of West Grey council with no doubts that residents are concerned about a wind farm proposal for the area.
By the time question period rolled around, uniformed West Grey police officers were circling the crowd, reminding everyone to keep their emotions under control, and representatives for Nextera Energy Resources, which has proposed the project, looked uncomfortable.
Correction and clarification related to the sentence above:
During the question period, officers with the West Grey Police Services were seen chatting with people at the back of the room who had been asking questions and making comments. “I’m quite sure it was cordial,” says Rene Berger, the police services’ chief of the exchanges. He says two police officers were assigned to the meeting at the request of the municipality. He says the officers told him that the meeting was quiet.
“This is a rather intimidating group to stand before,” said project manager Nicole Geneau, after being asked what it would take to make Nextera pack up and leave.
Nextera proposes to erect between 10 and 12 turbines with hubs 80 metres high, producing 18 to 23 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 5,400 homes.
The company, based in Juno Beach Fla, operates wind, hydro, natural gas, solar, oil and nuclear generation in four U.S. regions and two Canadian provinces.
No leases have been signed, although Nextera has signed an undisclosed number of options to use individuals’ land for wind energy generation. Nextera’s goal is to start construction in the spring of 2011, pending government approval.
West Grey has declared a moratorium on wind energy, and is asking for more in-depth studies to be done before proposals are approved. Mayor Kevin Eccles cited an overall lack of information. There’s frustration in West Grey because the province is seen to be encouraging wind power and residents don’t feel there are enough regulations protecting them.
“Maybe we should put (a turbine) in front of (Premier) Dalton McGuinty’s cottage and see how he feels about that,” said Mike McMurray, West Grey resident and real estate agent.
McMurray asserted demand for properties has fallen since the proposal was made public. People move to the area for the unobstructed views, rolling hills and quiet, which turbines would affect.
“So far, analysis has not shown an impact from wind turbines,” said Municipal Property Assessment Corporation municipal relations representative Chuck Egener. Egener cited a study in the United States showing no overall property value decline in several areas after wind farms were introduced. The crowd verbally rejected his statement.
According to McMurray, most of the areas studied were undeveloped and uninhabited. He says there were two areas similar to West Grey where property values were lowered.
The health debate was just as controversial and argumentative.
“We need to get it right because we’re talking about real people,” said Carmen Krough, a retired pharmacist.
Krough acknowledged that a Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) and American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) health study found no effects from wind turbines. She believes an independent third party study would have markedly different findings.
Krough says the United Kingdom National Health Service has rejected CanWEA and AWEA study findings. Japan is doing a four-year health study before allowing more turbines to be erected. France has begun shutting turbines down in specific areas overnight to avoid sleep interruptions.
Geneau claims there are no adverse health affects from living near wind turbines and current regulations are sufficient. Local residents aren’t so sure.
“This is a scary situation. We need definitive answers before installation can continue to proceed,” said West Grey resident Dick O’Brien. BF
Look to countries with more experience
West Grey, Ontario residents should have some comfort by relaizing that many areas of the world have been living with wind. Canada is late to the development of wind as a power resource.
If property values were going down and health problems going up because of wind turbines, don't you think other countries with up to 20 years more experience than ourselves would have stopped it by now? There is a wind turbine on the Exhibition grounds in downtown Toronto operating since 2002
We are the ones using more power every day. We are the ones who now have a choice of using power from a variety of sources, most with the coast of fuel going up annually (wood, coal, nuclear, gas) and having established negative health effects. The alternatives power sources are certainly improvments and there is no cost to the fuel. A step in the right direction.
West Grey meeting
Attending the advertised " INFORMATION" Meeting in West Grey to get information on the plans and details of Green Energy project planned for the area was a complete waste of time and an insult for any one with positive experience and knowledge on wind turbines and the extensive studies that have to be completed and approved before a project is in operation
The term "Protest Meeting" would have been more appropriate as the same group of people with no proven negative health effects from turbines worked very hard to hijack the meeting and insult and disgrace the the guest presenter rather the getting information and respecting the people in attendance who where there to listen and learn the positive things to get away from carbon pollution.
As a person living near turbines everyday and seeing the benefits I believe these protesters will never accept any study on health effects no matter who does it unless it says turbines make you sick.What a shame Municipalities waste taxpayers time and money instead of looking at the positive experiences