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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-10-07, Page 3t--..:_.--►�..r.�-r++i...+••-...+ yam....-.. �-- • �i 1 News The Komi Expositor- • October 7; 2009 fags3 HEAT happythatAct re uRations means. CASA must resubmit wind teenEnergy cject tom set 550 setbacks- GEA regulations increase minimum -ing for setbacks less than ,those set setbacks with an increasing number out in the regulations, Ross says it's of turbines - for example, increasing positive that the minimum setbacks the setbacks to 750 metres for six to are what they are. 10 turbines, HEAT is "not thrilled" Ross says HEAT is now waiting to that the regulations allow a de- see what CASA will do to respond to creased setback if noise studies are the GEA regulations and whether used to prove the increased setback the company will reapply for approv- is not necessary. al. "They would have liked to see some- "One thing is for sure - HEAT is thing a little stronger that states 750 still committed to oppose any wind metres is 750 metres," she says. projects in the area," says Ross. But; with the wind industry lobby - Y S'p�an Hundertmark Huron East Against Turbines (HEAT) is considering recently -re- leased regulations from the Green Energy Act (GEA) and its 550 'mini- mum setback of wind turbines from residences a victory of sorts, says HEAT's lawyer Kristi Ross. "What HEAT was particularly con- cerned with were the 450 metre set- backs in the CASA Engineering and Construction proposal," she says. Ross says the elevation request by HEAT asking for further study into the environmental screening report done by CASA was denied by the Ministry of the Environment. A month ago, HEAT submitted a 19 -page request to the director of environmental assessment at the MOE, which outlined eight areas of concern where "the analysis was minimal, lacking or incomplete," says Ross. But, while that request was de- nied, Ross says the letter from the MOE told HEAT that CASA will not be grandfathered under the "old re- gime" and will have to resubmit its proposal to the Ministry complying with the new regulations. "That's round one - it's a positive thing," she says. Ross adds, though, that HEAT members are disappointed that the Green Energy Act is not requiring. an epidemiological study to prove that the setbacks stated in the reg- ulations are not harmful to human health. As well, Ross says that while the Huron manufacturers hoping to build wind turbines locally Dan Schwab 41111111111111111. A sub -committee of the Huron Manufacturing Association known as the Renewable Energy Network- ing Group is looking to create "posi- tive spin-offs" from the provincial government's recently enacted Green Energy . and Green , ment. Economy Act, says HMA president Chris Meier. "Having a wind re- source, the lakefront and land, 'why not be- come a part of manu- facturing turbines and not just have to look at them," Meier says, speaking about the po- tential for creating a renewable energy in- dustry in Huron Coun- ty that would include opportunities for solar, wind, bio -energy, ther- mal, bio -waste and bio- fuel technologies. "This is an industry that will grow 30 times in the next five years in North America, according to the CanWEA (Canadian Wind Energy Association)," Meier says, also adding that he is aware wind power is a controversial issue. "I understand the gripes people have, but every industry has a dirty side. There does need to be a compromise and middle ground." The Renewable Energy Network- ing Group has met twice already and is planning to hold another meeting before the end of the year. According to minutes of the last meeting, which was held June 2, the objectives of the group include build- ing business to business relation- ships, inviting investors to the table and monitoring the fund- ing,. made available by the . provincial govern- r `I understand the gripes people have, but every industry has a dirty side. there does need to be 41_, w compromises and middle ground,' -- Chris Meier, HMA presidentE £` At the meeting, Rich- ard Kootsra of New World Generation, an Owen Sound holding company for patented technologies in the pow- er generation sector, talked about the bar- riers facing the group, saying "NIMBYism is putting a damper on the potential business opportunities for man- ufacturers associated with the development of wind energy in On- tario," according to the meeting's minutes. David Blaney of the Centre for Applied Re- newable Energy in Brussels, said there is still the .opportunity for jobs to be created for Huron County man- ufacturers since the Green Energy and Green Economy Act requires wind energy projects to have 25 per cent of the labour and product of each project to come from Ontario. Meier Llays other manufacturers can follow the lead of Jamco Trailers from Brucefield which is currently manufacturing small wind turbines. ave on ENERGY STAR ghting that saves. Thermostats tha eatherstripping that saves and mo ick up your coupons at participatiri totes today! Valid through November i, 2009. L: t ta)Y u./ti HIGH EfrICI1tICY HAI ME EffICACITE Otfi ial t11,1!* of ttio Ontrirko f'owor Authority.. Col» imago 0200!) 110%40 t.Hnatiian Mirn AH t giht , fltmt' voti