HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-06-17, Page 3News
Seili asks county to band together with wind turbine moratorium
The Huron Expositor • June 17, 2009 "Page 3
Susan HuudertinArk
With potential wind projects
throughout Huron County, Coun.
Joe Seili (Huron East) asked Huron
County council at its June 3 meeting
to pass an interim control bylaw un-
til related health concerns have been
studied.
"For each individual municipality
to go to the province is divide and
conquer but if we can go as a com-
mon front, maybe they will listen to
us," Seili said.
Seili told county councilors that
two wind projects planned in Huron
East are creating "quite a bit of op-
position" and Huron East council is
looking itself at passing an interim
control bylaw.
"We know there are a lot of wind
projects coming up in the county and
we're wondering if the county can
take a lead in bringing this forward.
The county should band together
because it will come to an area near
you," he said, adding that there are
wind projects brewing in Morris-
Turnberry, Central Huron and Blue -
water.
Coun. Bert Dykstra (Central Hu-
ron) asked if the Green Energy Act
won't be taking precedence over mu-
nicipal bylaws.
"It's premature to go down that
route yet," he said.
Coun. Ben Van Diepenbeek (ACW)
pointed out. that while the province
has promised to consult with local
municipalities over the Green Ener-
gy Act, he hasn't yet been asked for
an opinion.
"We as municipalities should at
least be consulted about the setback
rules," he said.
Seili said the more than 100 peo-
ple in the St. Columban area with
health concerns about wind turbines
are well aware of the effects of the
Green Energy Act but are still . ask-
ing the county. to act.
"Toronto is pushing this and there
are probably only four or five rural
votes in the province. The MPPs will
listen to the county more than to in-
dividual municipalities," he said.
Seili said municipalities could be
left looking after the expenses of
road repairs and other issues if wind
turbine projects go ahead.
"There's a lot to consider. But, if
you just sit here, you could end up
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with something you don't want," he
said.
Coun. Deb Shewfelt (Goderich)
said he is disturbed by the fact that
the Green Energy Act prevents mu-
nicipal politicians from protecting
their constituents.
"I thought we still lived in a free
country It's really disturbing you
can't protect their safety," he said.
Huron County planner Scott Thu -
saw said creating an interim control
bylaw at the county level will re-
quire a supporting resolution from
every member municipality and he
was not sure if it can be done on a
one-time basis.
He added that the Green Energy
Act will supercede municipal bylaws
but not until the "Schedule K" regu-
lations are released.
"We've been hounding them (the
province) for a few weeks now to de-
termine when but everyone just says
soon. The province and AMO (Asso-
ciation of Municipalities of Ontar-
io) haven't been able to answer our
questions," he said. "I don't want to
go to the lawyers yet because it will
incur a lot of costs."
Warden Ken Oke said he's been
receiving emails from citizens from
Huron East asking for a bylaw out-
lawing wind projects but he told
them the county couldn't do that.
"We would end up in court and we
would lose," he said. "But, I think
what they're doing is the right thing.
We need to let the province know
that these people are upset and they
have a right to be heard."
Oke asked for a report at the next
committee of the whole meeting out-
lining what the county can do.
Coun. Bill Siemon brought up a
recent Canadian Geographic article
that said municipal and citizens' ob-
jections stopped the second phase of
the wind project in Kingsbridge but
Van Diepenbeek responded that EP -
COR is still planning to redesign and
go ahead with its. second phase.
"One turbine or two is not an issue
but when you get four or five in an
area, that's when the health prob-
lems happen," said Van Diepenbeek.
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