Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2012-11-07, Page 2510 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, November 30, 2011 Wind debate blows into Bluewater Vanessa Brown Clinton News Record Members and supporters of Bluewater Against Turbines (BAT) packed the council gallery to standing -room only last week for a plea from the group's president that council fight for the health and safety of its residents and lobby for longer setbacks from homes than the current 530 metres. "We do not want these turbines - we don't want them ever, to be quite frank," stressed BAT president Dave Griffiths. "And if this so- called government -for -the -people manages to shove them down our throats, as they seem to be so good at, I am asking our council to please, please ask for longer setbacks from your citizens." Griffiths's delegation at Bluewater council last Monday came on the heels of a presenta- tion from employees of NextEra Energy Can- ada, which is developing two wind energy projects that, if approved by the Ministry of Environment next year, would see about 60 turbines erected in Bluewater. Mayor Bill Dowson, deputy mayor Paul Klopp and Hay East Councillor John Becker declared conflicts of interest and didn't par- ticipate in discussions. Like neighbouring anti -turbine groups Central Huron Against Turbines and Huron East Against Turbines, Griffiths's deputation criticized the provincial Liberals for their han- dling of the Green Energy Act, outlined sev- eral European countries' wind -farm failures economically, and implored council to be cognizant that signing lease agreements with a developer pits "family member against fam- ily member, neighbour against neighbour," while causing unrelenting civil unrest. In July, NextEra received feed -in -tariff con- tracts, which authorize the company to sell power to the grid, for the 60 megawatt, 37 tur- bine Bluewater Wind Energy Centre and the Goshen Wind Energy Centre project, described as a 102 megawatt project with 63 turbines, one third of which will be located in Bluewater. At this stage, project director Nicole Geneau and community relations consultant Derek Dudek visited council for a project update in advance of three public meetings scheduled for the first week in December. A drop-in cen- tre will be held at the Zurich Community Centre on Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. A pub- lic meeting will be held Dec. 7 in Varna that will focus on the Goshen project, which extends into South Huron. The next day, on Dec. 8, a third meeting will run in Seaforth to discuss the Bluewater project, which needs a transmission line running through Huron East to Seaforth's transition station. "This past summer, we also reached out to a number of local community organizations, and we've been making presentations to local chambers of commerce," Geneau said. "We've been trying to take that feedback into account in our project design." She said a draft layout that will include the locations of turbines will be available to the public the first week of December. The Minis- try of Environment mandates a certain number of public meetings must be held dur- ing the renewable energy approval (REA) process. NextEra has hosted extra consulta- tion sessions, such as meeting with chambers of commerce and the all -day Dec. 6 session, that are optional, Geneau noted. If the Ministry of Environment Issues the company renewable energy approvals, which are expected next year, construction should begin in spring 2013. The turbines will then be operational before the end of that year. According to Geneau, the projects will cre- ate about 400 temporary construction jobs - positions NextEra will be looking to fill locally. Once the turbines go online, 14 to 18 perma- nent jobs in operations and management will be retained with an operations centre located either in Bluewater or South Huron, Geneau said. She added that the construction teams will benefit the local economy by frequenting res- taurants and auto shops, among others. Because Bluewater will see less than half of the estimated $148,000 NextEra assumes it will pay in taxes on the turbines each year (the rest goes to the province and county) the company will commit to a community vibrancy fund for such things as recreational activities, tourism, and community projects to be controlled by Bluewater. Geneau said the company is looking to contribute about $3,500 per megawatt and $5,000 per kilome- tre of transmission line that's located under- neath public spaces. Based on those figures, NextEra would pay Bluewater as much as $435,500 annually. During question period, Hay West Coun. John Gillespie said anecdotal evidence is cir- culating that property values decrease in areas with wind turbines. He asked how land- owners and the municipality would be com- pensated if turbines drove house values down. Studies have shown agricultural property values in southwestern Ontario are actually increasing despite turbines being erected, Geneau countered. She said property value reductions aren't the company's responsibility and that Nex- tEra hasn't experienced declining land values near any of its turbines. "Right. But that's not to say they won't, and that's not to say that you shouldn't have any contingency plan in place in case they do," Gillespie said. "But I think we've gotten your response, which is it's not your problem." On the issue of the costs of decommission- ing a turbine once it's reached its end of life, Zurich Coun. Janisse Zimmerman asked how Bluewater can ensure NextEra will remove the turbines. Decommissioning is one of four reports the developing company includes in its REA application, and is a legal document, Geneau said, adding that it's written into lease con- tracts with landowners that they won't be responsible for paying for them to be dismantled. Coun. Zimmerman, however, didn't appear to be convinced. "It's great to have reports expressing what's going to be done and how you're going to do it, but how do we guarantee it? What happens if you don't carry through with anything?" she questioned. "I'm sure your contract would be cancelled by the province, but you come to AT • NAL* IRE EVENT Get a grip on winter driving. Ail With Tbtal Tire Care from Ford, my car Is ready for winter anti I didn't even get my hands dirty.!! THE TOTAL TIRE CARE We won't be undersold on tires!" Up to $1 0 in Manufacturer Mail -In Rebates." See your Service Advtso to details. Steel wheels starting hon $5999 14steel wheel) OR Upgrade to aluminum wheats. Up to 600,0 OFF° For added convenience, let us store your summer tires." Available M participating locations. Dealer may sell for lass. ASK ABOUT WIC SAFlrY PACKAdt Nelp prep r. for winter with SINK t brand name tires, wheels and tire pressure monitoring system designed by Ford to your Ford. a tati WORKS Fuel Economy Package' Winter preparation that can save you up to $350' a year on gas FOR Motorcraft OR PA ORKSHOESDS With Installation Enjoy the stops along the way. Never buy another set of Motorcraft brake pads or shoes with our lifetime warrantyl• ONLY 99' MUM= UPTog?4ofTAmN■MThON. OIL AND LTlrlOMNI' TI ANO RECEIVE NO -CHARGE THE DIESEL WORKS Fuel Economy Packager Full service winter preparation for your diesel engine. Motorcraft" WIPER BLADES WITH PURCNAM.e INSTALLATION INCLUDE). II/ MTA0. VALUS. FREE BOTTLE OF "5 SHOT" ANTI -GEL & PERFORMANCE IMPROVER" WITH THIS SERVICE SU OMALIK POR PACKAOI PRMCSL Trust the experts who know your Ford best: Ford -Trained Technicians. The National Tire Event ends December 14th, 2011, so visit your Ford Store or ford.ca today. Service CONTINUED > PAGE 14