Lucknow Sentinel, 2009-08-05, Page 4Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Page 3
HEAT asking help in burying power lines
BY SUSAN
HUNDERTMARK
Seafortb Huron Expositor
Huron East Against
Turbines (HEAT) is ask-
ing Huron East council
to pass motions that will
require wind farm devel-
opers to bury power
lines on municipal road-
sides.
HEAT is also asking
for a - motion that
requires wind farm
developers to post a
bond of several million
dollars that would be
used. to pay for any nec-
essary clean-up of roads,
bridges and culverts
caused by the develop-
ment.
Jim Murray, speaking
as. a representative of
HEAT, thanked council
for being "a leader in
Ontario by stepping up
to the plate regarding the
issues on wind farms."
Murray said that with
CASA Engineering and
Constructionro sin
p � g
four kilometres of over-
head lines rummng close
to 13 homes in McKillop
for the two proppse4 St.
Columban wind proj-
ects, HEAT is asking.
council to enforce that
the lines be buried.
"In Ripley, they have
gone, back in and buried
some of the lines which
run by some of the most
effected homes which
has helped .a bit," .he
said, adding that stray
voltage entering homes
was reduced by buried
lines.
"We believe the
biggest problem is from
the lines being carried to
the substations," he said.
As well, Murray point-
ed out that Huron East
could lose "considerable
tax dollars" if the St.
Columban projects cre-
ated similar health prob-
lems as are seen in
Ripley.
"Several homes in the
Ripley . area have asked
that their assessment be
dropped to a zero dollar
value as, their homes are
not livable and cannot be
sold," he said, adding
that HEAT feels it
should be able to sue
CASA for the loss of
property value if health
concerns occur.
Murray also referred
to a three-year study of
600 property sales north
of the Shelburne wind
development which
showed property values
have decreased by 20-25
per cent or an average of
$0,000.per home.
As well, he said
asessements of homes
within a mile of turbines
in Lincoln, Wisconsin
decreased by 26 per
cent, adding that some of
the homes in that area
were .bought out and
bulldozed by the devel-
oper.
Murray said roads
were damaged and old
culverts tossed aside to
rust in farmer's fields
after wind developments
in Ripley and Wolfe
Island.
Murray and Gerry
Ryan asked council to
make a submission to the
Environmental Bill of
Rights Registry com-
menting on setbacks and
points of reception.
"We feel it's very
important for you to
endorse what we're
doing," said Ryan. •
Ryan added that as a
representative of the
farmers and small towns
and villages in Huron
East, council needs to be
aware that wind compa-
nieswill be lobbying for
smaller setbacks than the
550 metres being consid-
ered for the regulations
of the Green Energy Acta
"Turbines on the edge
of town will restrict your
growth," he said.
Murry ' gave ave the
example of a wind tur-
bine being built on a
farm on the edge of
Seaforth next to Lions
Park and said .that with
the current definition of
"point of reception," the
Seaforth Lions Park and
all the people who use
the pool and ballpark
would be disregarded.
"The proposed set-
backs are the same now
for: farms and urban
areas, which virtually.
allows no growth for
towns if they were
placed on the perimeter
of a town," he said,
adding that wind devel-
opments near town could
prevent further develop-
ment and new tax rev-
enues.
A letter from HEAT's
lawyer Kristi Ross asked
council to also send let-
ters to the Ministry of
the Environment inform-
ing them of the interim
control bylaw and the
study that is being con-
ducted.
Mayor Joe Seili . said
council would take
HEAT's requests " under
advisement."
"Burying cable is
something we can do
under the site plan con-
trol but that's about the
only option we have
left," said Seili.
Sells said he wished
the municipality had
enough money to con-
duct its ownepidemio-
logical
p
du t a idemio-
logical study ` on the
health effects ` of the
wind turbines.
"But, we can't afford it
so we'll ,have to leave it
to the province," he said.
Clerk -Administrator
Jack McLachlan : told
HEAT that he has
already advised the
Ministry , of the
Environment ; about : the
interim control bylaw.
•
CHEERS to the Chamber of Commerce for the "great" banners on the lamp posts
and cheers to the town staff for putting them up.
Cheers :.. Here are the rules: 1. Drop your written copy in person at The
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(Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of this newspaper.)
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Submitted photo
The Lucknow and District Horticultural Society's annual flower
show and tea was held July t 5. Sarah Alton and Rebecca t livins
proudly display their prize winning plants : they entered In the
youth category.
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