HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-07-15, Page 3Construction
From Page 1
appropriate setbacks.
But, he adds the projects will coYn-
ply with whatever - setbacks are re-
quired once the Green Energy Act
regulations are decided.
"The impact will depend on what it
is. We're moving ahead with what we
1 know today," he' says.
The report describes the projects,
how they will be . built and operated
and the research done into any envi-
ronmental affects of the projects.
Construction and commercial op-
eration of the projects are expected to
start in 2010 and 2011, with construc-
tion scheduled for the second quarter
of 2010, according to the report.
The projects will have two 27.6 kV
electrical connection points, one lo-
cated on Summerhill Road and the
other on Hydro Line Road. Two over-
head local transmission lines will be
required for the projects. A westward
line extension of 2.5 km will be built
along Summerhill Road by Hydro
One. No substations are required for
the projects.
The report says construction will
happen in stages, beginning with
road construction and site prepara-
tion of all the turbines before founda-
tion construction for all the turbines
begins.
Construction roads will remain pri-
vate and be maintained for the life of
the project for ongoing turbine moni-
toring and maintenance.
The report says wind turbine gen-
Protecting
family farms
From Page 1
Cozen. Deb Shewfelt (Goderich) agreed
more needs to be done to help farm-
ers. He suggested the time has come
for county council to form an ad-hoc
committee, comprised of councillor/
farmers to meet with ministers at the
upcoming Association of Municipali-
ties of Ontario conference.
"We're depending on the farm in-
dustry to stay strong," said Shewfelt,
adding now that Goderich has lost its
largest employer, Volvo, agriculture is
the No. 1 job creator in the county.
Coun. Joseph Seili (Huron East)
added the current trend is for fewer
people to choose farming as a vocation
since there is little if any profit in it.
"If the trend keeps continuing, we
won't have (family farms). We'll have
corporate farms," he said.
Council both endorsed Dykstra's
motion and agreed to form a commit-
tee to meet with ministers at AMO.
Dowson added both plans are steps
in the right direction.
"It's never too late to lobby govern-
ment and keep them informed of what
situation we're in," he said. "We need
to be there to' tell the ministers how
important agriculture is all across the
board."
-News
The Huron Expositor • July 15, 2009 Page 3
t
expected tbegin on projects next y
na and flora, terrestrial vegetation, surveys of peer-reviewed scientific
wildlife, air quality, cultural and her- literature "have consistently found
itage resources, tourism and recce- no evidence linking wind turbines to
ation resources, local community and human health concerns," citing seven
economy, land use, aesthetics, safety articles to back up their findings.
and noise. "Safety issues related to the project
The report says the project could are limited to construction, operation
bring new investment, jobs and mu- and decommissioning of the wind
nicipal tax revenues and secondary farm," says the report. "The scope of
income to farmers In Huron East, the required screening which is being
"improving the economic stability of undertaken does not include an epi -
the municipality during the economic demiological study."
downturn. The report says wind turbines have
The report addresses concerns about no negative effect on property values,
noise by saying the projects will "add quoting studies in the U.S., Australia
a small net source of white noise to and Europe.
the local environment." As well, it says that stray voltage
"Because of other noise sources (am- will be avoided in the St. Columban
bient wind noise, noise from foliage, projects "by incorporating all new
traffic noise, agricultural noise) this construction in accordance with stan-
noise will only infrequently be heard dard utility practice and meeting the
by residents," say the report. required stringent design and inspec-
As well, it says noise levels generat- tion requirments of the Electrical
ed by the turbines meet all prescribed Safety Authority."
limits at all wind speeds. "The project . is estimated to supply
"The net effects are considered min- the electrical needs of approximately
imal and not significant," says the re- 4,500 typical Ontario households
port. with emission -free energy," says the
The report addresses health con- report.
cerns by saying
"a very small
number have as-
serted that their
health has been
negatively im-
pacted by wind
turbines" out of
the tens of thou-
sands of people
in North America
living near 10,000
wind turbines.
It adds that
erators will be transported in pieces
including the tower, blades and na-
celle on an oversized truck. A crane
will also be delivered by truck and
assembled at the site and used to as-
semble the towers.
While the foundations will be left
for one month to set before the tow-
ers are erected, it is estimated that
putting up the turbines will take two
weeks.
The wind turbines will be connect-
ed to the grid with a combination of
underground lines and overhead ca-
bles.
. Testing and inspection of the system
will take from two to four weeks.
The report says construction crews
and equipment will be demobilized
after the testing, with garbage and
debris removed and construction ar-
eas rehabilitated.
"All lands that were previously used
for agriculture will be graded, the tile
drainage repaired where necessary
and topsoil reapplied. High voltage
signs will be installed as necessary
and maintained as necessary," says
the report.
The wind turbines will be main-
tained by trained technicians and the
report says the daily operation will
require "almost no human `interven-
tion:" Usually, turbines require main-
tenance twice a year, which takes five
days to complete.
"It is not uncommon for a well-main-
tained project to have a useful life of
25 years without significant repair or
repl'acement," says the report.
Environmental issues studied in
the report include soil and geology,
water quality, aquatic habitats, fau-
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