HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-09-21, Page 5Wednesda , ' tember 21, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 6
community
letter
,Weird electrical problems
What Gives? Q: -What two
things do Ripley, Ipperwash and
Ridgetown all have in common?
A: - All have wind turbine
developments and local residents
have experienced weird electrical
problems.
Ripley had, and still has, severe
stray voltage that seems to follow
a buried municipal drain.
Ipperwash had reports of
blown out electrical equipment
(eg. One person reported 11
VCR's in one year) and an odd
case where Hydro insisted that a
monthly bill for $7000 was accu-
rate and threatened to cut-off
service if it wasn't paid.
But the problems in Ridget-
own have to take the cake.
Nearby is the large'IYtlbot wind
project with 43 turbines. It went
live last December. On March 5
there was a wide area that was hit
with a "ground surge" of electric-
ity, and then a black -out, all the
way from Highgate to downtown
Ridgetown. The surge lasted 3
seconds - doesn't sound very
long, but for an uncontrolled
electrical event it is eternity. In
that 3 seconds, tens of thousands
of dollars of damage was
done. Fortunately, there were no
injuries.
Residents reported:
1) Fax machines, computers,
micro -wave ovens, smoke
detectors (!!!) etc. were fried.
2) Fuses on numerous Hydro
transformers were "popped" -
in one case every one on a
concession road.
3) An electrical transformer on a
furnace at a local Ridgetown
school caught fire and left
scorch marks on the panel.
A resident reported flames
shooting from an electrical
receptacle with scorch marks
on the metal and melted
plastic.
5) Strangest of all was an inverter
on a micro -FIT solar panel
that was blown out - a $5,000
repair - not an item you would
want to replace on a regular
basis.
6) There were other, smaller
surge events after this one,
and then another big one on
April 11. Residents were defi-
nitely spooked and highly
annoyed with the cost of the
repairs. Claims were put into
insurance and some went
directly to Ilydro which
)
turned them over to a contract
adjuster, Quelmec Lost
Adjusters, which specializes in
"claim denied" letters judging
from the 2 copies I have seen.
For the March 5 "event",
Quelmec wrote to one resident,
"...The damage to your property is
unfortunate...the cause of the
incident....was unexpected
equipment failure...records indi-
cate that high winds with gusts
up to 57 km/h were reported...
caused the switches to open" -
and they go on - "...Hydro One
had no way to foresee this event...
We do appreciate that there may
be expenses...1lydro One is not
liable."
So, Hydro chooses to employ
an Ottawa -based company
whose specialty is to "diss" the
public. Worse, there is no attempt
to investigate what is obviously a
major system failure - one of the
more significant ones to hap-
pen in Ontario in recent years. In
light of the other problems that
arise as soon as a wind project
arrives, an investigation is the
least that I lydro should do.
What needs to be done is this:
1) I lydro should have an
independent analysis done by an
engineering firm that specializes
in forensic investigation of elec-
trical systems.
2) Ilydro must reimburse all
legitimate claims for loss. A 57
km/h wind is not a good enough
reason, and Hydro knows it.
3) There is incidental evi-
dence that electrical disturbance
is associated with wind turbine
installations. Residents need an
explanation why this is happen-
ing now, not after projects go up.
It may be coincidental that
these surge events occur after a
wind project goes online. We
have raised the issue of system
reliability with wind company
rep's and the need to upgrade the
distribution system first - and
their response is, "You can't do
that, it would hold up our
project." Rural residents are sup-
posed to do all the sacrificing for
their bottom line.
1 think it's time that our Ilydro
system looked after its customers
first.
Harvey Wrightman
Kerwood, ON
WI book club review Patterson book
The Grand Bend Women's Institute Book Club meet at
the Grand Bend Library in September to review 1st To
Die by lames Patterson. 'Ihe clever twists and affecting
subplots kept the story very interesting. lst To Die was a
slickly written novel and there was an ending that will
take the reader by surprise.
The next book to be read by the group is Midwives, a
novel by Chris Bohjalian. The book club will review this
book on October 28 at 2 o'clock at the Grand Bend
Library. For more information concerning the readings
of the GBWI Book Club contact Barb Kilback at
519.243.1163. Everyone is welcome to join us.
A luncheon at Grog's, Northville, preceeded the Sep-
tember meeting of Grand Bend Women's Institute. Vice
president Cass Lovie chaired the meeting. A Farmers'
Thanksgiving Market update was given. It was approved
that monies from our hotdog sale at the market will be
donated to the Goderich'lornado Fund. The Book Club
announced that the next read is Midwives by Chris
Bohjalian . It will be reviewed on October 27. Me Wool
Felting Workshop is on September 29 at 1:30. Anyone
interested in this workshop please call Barb Kilback at
519.243.1163 for more information. The Fall Rally, the
Area Convention and an Arrea Workshop are all in
October.
The WI members then went to the Pinery Provincial
for a most interesting afternoon. Authorites at the Pin-
ery told of the monitoring and research that was being
done there. It was noted that about 130 deer are now
calling the Pinery home and 125 is the desired number.
Sightings and pellet counts determine the number of
deer habitating in the Pinery. The lupine plant is also
being monitored carefully.
The Grand Bend I iorticulture Society will be featured
at our October 20, 2011 meeting. If you are interested in
the work of Grand Bend Women's Institute please con-
tact President Donna Lovie at 519.238.8395. Everyone is
welcome
Want to learn to fly?
Flight instructor Chris Watson is inviting anyone with
a love of flight to learn what's involved in becoming a
licensed pilot during an information meeting later this
month.
Aspiring pilots will hear about the cost and time
investments and the challenges and benefits from
Watson, who takes to the local skids at every opportunity
he gets.
The first information session will be held 'Tuesday,
Sept. 27, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Richard W. LeVan
Airport, Wingham.
The second information session will be held Wednes-
day, Sept. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Goderich
Municipal Airport.
"It's a lot of work to become a pilot, but the benefits
are %veil worth it," said Watson, Who joined Royal Cana-
dian Air Cadets at age 17 with aspirations of becoming a
pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Although he ulti-
mately chose a different career path, he continues to
pursue his interest in flying. In fact, his credentials read
like a shopping list: Glider Pilot, Power Pilot, Glider
Instructor, Canadian Forces Reserve Pilot, and Flight
Instructor, with about 400 hours total time in the skies.
"1 can fly to a nearby town for breakfast or head to
'Toronto to see the skyline and circle the CN 'lower. 1 go
on my own schedule and don't have to worry about traf-
fic," Watson said.
Pre -registration for the information sessions is
encouraged by entailing chris@cjwts.com or calling 519-
440-9328. Drop -ins welcome.
Nine beers later Appreciating
nature
NEIL BOWEN
QMI Agency
A woman who thought nine beers would leave her
OK to drive was fined $1,400 for impaired driving.
Jody Allison George, 35, of Oneida pleaded guilty in
court Monday to impaired driving July 5 in l.ambton
Shores.
Family members concerned for her safety had called
police.
After being stopped at 9:50 p.m. she smelled strongly
of alcohol. She told police she had nine beers through-
out the day and thought she would he OK to drive fol-
lowing an argument with family members.
Breath samples showed her blood-alcohol level was
more than twice the legal limit.
The significantly elevated level warranted an
increased fine, said Justice Mark l lornblower.
'the tninitnun) fine is $1,000.
A one-year driving ban was imposed but she will be
eligible to drive after three months if she pays to have a
breath -test device installed in her vehicle.
Sarnia Obseri'er
The Lambton Shores Nature Trails Committee invites you to
an OPEN HOUSE
This is your community... An opportunity to team more —
An opportunity to participate In making our Vision:
"A Network of connected, accessible, safe and user-friendly
Nature Trails" a reality in Lambton Shores & Vicinity
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
7:00 -- 9:00 p.m.2
Lambton Heritage Museum
(On Highway 121,/ KM north of the Entrance to Pinery
Provincial Park)
The focus at our OPEN HOUSE will be in throe areas:
1. Public Awareness
2. Volunteer Opportunities
3. Landowner Partner & 'Green Sponsor' Contact
Cali (519) 243-1818 for further information