HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-09-16, Page 7News
The Huron Expositor • September 16, 2009 Pope 7
Perth -Wellington MPP John Wilkinson says strict
regulations will make local wind projects viable and safe
Andy laitdg1
Strict regulations, if passed as part
of the Ontario Green Energy and
Conservation Act, will make wind -
generation power viable and safe,
despite controversy surrounding
proposed area projects, Perth -Wel-
lington MPP John Wilkinson said in
a recent interview.
"In the proposed regulations, there
are strict requirements
for people putting up
renewable energy
whether it be wind, so-
lar, bio -mass or hydro,"
Wilkinson said, not-
ing proponents have to
go to the province and
--show no adverse health
impacts, and as a condi-
tion "monitor that con-
stantly.'
The provincial gov-
ernment has passed
a framework piece of
legislation, the draft
regulations and the set
of proposals have been
posted on the website
and are open for consul-
tation.
Wilkinson said he an-
ticipates the final set of regulations
to be passed "in the near term."
The minimum distance from a
dwelling for a wind turbine, accord-
ing to the proposed legislation, is
550 metres and the recorded noise
level at the dwelling place not ex-
ceed 40 decibels which, according to
Wilkinson, "is a very low threshold
for sound."
The fact that constant monitoring
is required by any proposal is key to
the legislation,, Wilkinson noted, and
will be part of any certificate of ap-
proval that sets the conditions and
the parameters on how they oper-
ate.
"The necessity to monitor for any
possible human health impact is go-
ing to be a requirement and I sup-
port that," he said.
Wilkinson said in the "big r ; cture",
Ontario is the first jurisdiction ac-
tively getting rid of dirty coal and re-
placing with the Green Energy and
Conservation Act.
"People have called it the most
progressive piece of legislation out
there, and we've set a new gold stan-
dard in terms of getting
green energy in this
province."
Another key is that
there will be clarity for
all concerned - a set of
rules that everybody
understands. .
People can oppose
such projects - "you
never get 100 per cent
requirement" - but
Wilkinson wants to
caution residents that
you do have a choice if
you do or do not want
a wind turbine on your
property. .
"There can be no
wind turbine on peo-
ple's property without
them signing a contract
for that," he said, warning that if
residents are approached, they get
legal advice first.
"It's no different than any other
business practice," he said.
To his . understanding, Wilkinson
thought the proposal for the Brod-
hagen area in West Perth is more of
a co-operative model, meaning the
neighbors in the area would also re-
ceive some of the compensation for
the. power.
Such a model, he said, has proven
that "the acceptance in the commu-
nity went up."
The proposal in Huron East is re -
'The necessity
to monitor for
any possible
human health
impact is going
tobea
requirement
and 1 support
that,' --
Perth -Wellington
MPP John Wilkinson
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John Wilkinson
Perth -Wellington MPP
portedly
different.
Over-
all, not
only will
jobs be
created in
rural On-
tario due
to these
massive
projects,
but mon-
ey will be
spent here
in doing
so, Wilkin-
son said.
"It's a
great op-
portunity for economic development.
These wind turbines are big and
heavy, and jurisdictions that can
find a way to build them locally as
opposed to have them shipped from •
overseas will benefit," he said, not-
ing that the government is predict-
ing an influx of 50,000 green energy
jobs.
"If we have a local demand, it
makes sense for that to be supplied
by local manufacturing," he said.
"We have many factories today look-
ing for new lines of work in the 21st
century."
The eradication of dirty coal is im-
portant for the future, Wilkinson
said, not only environmentally but
as an example to our neighbours to
the south in the United States that
Ontario is serious.
"It's important. for our future and
our children that we get ourselves
weaned off of using dirty coal in mak-
ing electricity in this province. I'm
glad to report its down substantially
over the years, and we continue to
reduce it."
Dirty coal is the number -one source '
of mercury in the natural environ-
ment today, he continued.
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