Libs’ disdain for rural folk hard to miss

Jim Merrian addresses the government's actions indicating it “couldn’t care less about the small towns and rural areas of the province.”

Libs’ disdain for rural folk hard to miss | Column | Opinion | Sarnia Observer:

"Last week’s musings about the potential loss of 60,000 jobs in rural Ontario due to the removal of slots from racetracks in the province brought a question from a reader.
He wondered how I could conclude the provincial government “couldn’t care less about the small towns and rural areas of the province,” based solely on the fact that moving the slots threatens the rural-based race industry.
Let me count the ways.
Rural abattoirs have been forced to close across the province because of onerous regulations from Queen’s Park. Fifteen years ago, Ontario had more than 900 businesses to process meat and poultry. Today, there might be 130.
The regulations, by the way, were nothing more than meddling; there hadn’t been problems.
Meanwhile, they’ve seriously interrupted the local food chain and helped to make a joke out of the same government’s promotion of eating food produced locally.
Wind factories are being forced down the throats of rural Ontarians to feed the hunger for power in the Golden Horseshoe and beyond."

Continue reading at the observer website:

Turbines soar to a new level

John Miner has an extensive article detailing some industrial wind turbine issues in Ontario, in general, and along the coast of Lake Huron specifically.  A video accompanies the written article.

Turbines soar to a new level | London | News | London Free Press

Rose Vlemmic has one word to describe the giant wind turbines about to be built behind her Grand Bend home: Ugly.

"It's just ridiculous. We had our house up for sale, but who's going to buy it with all these turbines?" she says.

Four years after building their dream home outside the resort village, Rose and her husband Ray have been jolted by news that four industrial wind turbines -- 100 metres high -- will go up on the farmland between their house and the village.

They're not alone in their shock. As prolific as the often-unwanted wind farms already are in rural Ontario, the province hasn't seen anything yet.

While Ontario has 1,200 industrial wind turbines operating now, it has signed deals that'll more than double that number in the next couple of years.

Add in plans for more turbines -- projects either going through the approval mill, or on the drawing boards -- and that figure could jump to 6,400 turbines, according to calculations by Wind Concerns Ontario, a citizens' group that tracks the ever-changing projects.

Continue reading the article (including quotes from WCO's Jane Wilson) at the London Free Press website

Patrick Moore: Environmentalists wrong about Canadian oil

Only some peripheral references specifically to wind here - but the scope of issues covered by Dr. Moore, in under 30 minutes, are impressive.  It's the first time I can recall hoping to see powerpoint slides.

"Dr. Patrick Moore, former leader and co-founder of Greenpeace, discusses how environmental activists distort the debate on Canada's oilsands, during the Fraser Institute's annual Dr. Harold Siebens Lecture & Luncheon on Monday, May 14 in Vancouver."

Democracy … Blowing in the wind…

The Amherst Island Wind Info site has posted a couple of documents written by the island's Michèle LeLay, including her letter to "the Whig."

A quote from that letter:

It is troubling that the interests of the developer Algonquin Power, a private company who retains the services of a lobbying firm well connected to the Liberal party, are being given more importance than the voices of at least 90% of the homeowners from Amherst Island. Indeed, according to the Ontario Lobbyists Registry, 3 consultants are working on behalf of Algonquin in matters related to the Renewable Energy Approvals process. The Registry also outlines who is being lobbied on behalf on Algonquin Power: Members of Provincial Parliament, Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport, Office of the Premier and Cabinet Office. 

Through the increasingly high costs of hydro in this province, the Ontarians are therefore subsidizing the developer who, in turn pays lobbyists to make sure that the same citizens’ concerns won’t have the same weight throughout the process! This is democracy at it’s best!

The full letter to the Whig, as well as correspondence with LeLay's local council, are at the Amherst Island Wind Info site.

Atwood area resident calls police on Invenergy surveyors

Atwood area resident calls police on Invenergy surveyors:

NORTH PERTH — An Atwood-area farmer called police last Tuesday in an effort to get Invenergy Canada surveyors off his land.

Koos Wilting said he received correspondence from Invenergy Canada stating the company’s intention to survey Wilting’s three parcels of land. Wilting’s lawyer responded to the company, writing they wouldn’t be permitted to do so. This correspondence went back and forth for about a month to a month and a half.

On Tuesday, May 8, Invenergy Canada representatives arrived at one of Wilting’s properties.

“They visited the house after,” said Wilting. “We just talked. We came to the conclusion that we disagreed.”

Wilting said his lawyer had advised him he could contact the authorities should surveyors show up and not wish to leave. So he telephoned the police and gave them the cell phone number of one of the Invenergy representatives. An officer called the representative and they spoke by phone.

Wilting says the group then proceeded to his third property. He called police again, who attended the scene.

“We talked about the situation,” Wilting said. “I said, ‘I don’t want them here.’ The police told them to leave, so they did.”

He said there were about six men in the group, but couldn’t confirm if they were all with Invenergy Canada.

Wilting told The Banner he has in fact signed a contract with Invenergy Canada.

Continue reading at the southwesternontario.ca websire:

Rally declares ‘It’s now or never’ to stop wind turbine development

 Rally declares ‘It’s now or never’ to stop wind turbine development : Prince Edward County News countylive.ca:

The battle against government-enabled Industrial Wind Turbine projects has been stepped up in Prince Edward County.
Members and friends of the County Coalition for Safe and Appropriate Green Energy (CCSAGE) believe “It’s now or never” as the projects threaten to destroy the County’s naturally green environment.
“A real white pine does not kill birds. A real white pine does not cause illness, raise Ontario’s electricity rates, destroy tourism or reduce property values”, is the campaign mantra, said Duncan Fischer of CCSAGE.
“Citizens have launched the “Naturally Green” and “Turbine-Free” campaign, through CCSAGE, aimed at convincing provincially-elected representatives that a majority of Prince Edward County residents strongly believe that their personal health and economic viability depend upon maintaining turbine-free neighbourhoods in this tourist-based area. Their goal is to stop final approval of proposed industrial wind farms in the southernmost part of the County,” Fischer said.

Read the entire article at countylive.ca:

Council Asked to Pass IWT Bylaw

Meaford's Mr. Osborn should be commended for keeping the pressure on council.

The recent alterations to the Feed-In Tariff program has resulted in the existing rankings being disposed.  New rankings will include 'points' for community support.

Council Asked to Pass IWT Bylaw:

"A Meaford resident has asked members of council to bring forward a bylaw pertaining to industrial wind turbines that he feels would have some teeth, and would protect the community, its residents, and its agricultural sector from an influx of wind farms.
Mike Osborn, who has been a resident of the municipality since 2004, told council that he was making the request on behalf of a group of concerned citizens."
“We are very concerned about the various adverse impacts of the Industrial Wind Turbines. Much has been written about the high cost to taxpayers of these machines. Many such articles have appeared in rural and urban newspapers in Ontario. Indeed around the world in countries such as Australia, United Kingdom and Spain the same concerns are expressed,” said Osborn in the opening remarks of his presentation to council.
Osborn said that other municipalities have taken steps to protect themselves from the potential for large scale industrial wind farm developments, and he pointed specifically to the community of Wainfleet

Continue reading the article at the Meaford Independent

Brochure for May Long Weekend distribution

Keith Stelling has created a brochure for distribution this weekend.

" It is designed to speak to people who live in the cities. Please copy it and distribute it to holiday visitors next weekend. It only requires one double sided sheet (black and white) folded twice with the picture on the front."

Some events planned for the weekend are detailed at Ontario Wind Resistance site, including plans in the Shelburne, Grand Bend, and Port Elgin areas.

Victoria Day Brouchure (.pdf) 

• Wind turbines and solar panels can’t replace coal
• We pay for wind energy even when not needed
• Where do the profits go?
• Wind turbines don’t lower CO2
• Wind turbines do not have a benign environmental footprint
• Wind turbines do not have a benign environmental footprint
• Provincial Government exempts turbines from Endangered Species Act
• Do wind turbines adversely affect human health?
• The Samsung agreement

 View the Victoria Day Brouchure (.pdf) 

Green sector in the red

 Green sector in the red:

The economic case against so-called renewable power grows ever more dire in Ontario. The latest bad news is that the province lost jobs last month while most other provinces gained.

In California, which also worships the same environmental neo-religion, state authorities panicked a few days ago when their annual deficit hit $16 billion. That's the same deficit Ontario has - and we have less than one-third their population. If California knows it's in deep economic trouble, shouldn't Ontario, too, since things are three times worse here?

Given the high unemployment in this region, Windsor didn't have much choice but to jump onto this bandwagon when it rolled into town a few years ago.

But even if the first car-charging station is being christened here with fanfare on Wednesday, at this point it's pretty clear the city and Essex County should not pretend this new industry will diversify our economy much.

The entire article, by Chris Vander Doelen, can be read at the Windsor  Star website.

Environmental Registry Comment Period On Korean Consortium Project Commences

May 14the commenced the 30 days comment period (ending June 13th) on the massive 270MW South Kent Wind Project proposed by the Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Pattern Energy.

Environmental Registry:

Graphic from windfarmrealities.org

This posting is for a proposed Renewable Energy Approval (REA) by South Kent Wind LP (Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Pattern Energy) for the South Kent Wind Project, proposed to be located in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. This proposed facility consists of 124 wind turbines, two transformer substations, transmission lines, access roads and ancillary equipment. The total expected generation capacity is 270 megawatts (MW).

The proposed facility is considered to be a Class 4 Wind Facility under Ontario Regulation 359/09 (O. Reg. 359/09) Renewable Energy Approvals under Part V.0.1 of the Environmental Protection Act. Applications for Renewable Energy Approvals are required to be submitted in accordance with O. Reg. 359/09 for consideration for approval...

Green energy leaves Windsor with broken promises- CBC News

CBC reports that of 1480 promised 'green' jobs,  they count only 262

Green energy leaves Windsor with broken promises - Windsor - CBC News:

The green energy sector has not delivered to Windsor the number of jobs several firms collectively promised during the last three years.

Through media releases, public announcements and media coverage of grand openings, CBC News has learned that eight companies promised they would fill up to 1,480 jobs in the alternative energy sector by the end of 2012.

The article continues here,  and is accompanied by audio of an interview of PC energy critic Vic Fedeli.

Nature Canada’s Ted Cheskey will lead hike at Ostrander Point

 Nature Canada’s Ted Cheskey will lead hike at Ostrander Point : Prince Edward County News countylive.ca:

On Thursday May 17, Ted Cheskey from Nature Canada will lead a nature Hike at Ostrander Point Crown Land Block. This is a unique opportunity for everyone to see what we will lose if the Ontario Government persists in its plan to allow Gilead Power to develop Ostrander Point into an Industrial wind turbine facility.

Read the full column, including details on how to join in the hike on Thursday, at the countylive website

Dufferin juggles turbines, development charges

Perhaps Dufferin should get some legal opinions on the liabilities it is taking on, before deciding the development charges on an industrial wind turbine should only be at the level a single family home.

Orangeville Article: Dufferin juggles turbines, development charges:

“They requested that we create kind of a more volumetric charge for wind turbines,” Bevan said. “It was over $10,000 and then council decided in Grey to say, ‘That obviously would be unfair, so we think $5,000 would be a more appropriate charge’.”
It is not known how the county may ultimately decide when it comes to DCs and wind turbines. Dufferin plans to host a public meeting in June, and its new DC blueprint could come into effect a few months afterwards.
Hypothetically, if the county opted to travel down the flat rate per turbine route, any projects with existing building permits wouldn’t be impacted.
“It’s just making it open to council, if they want to follow that path or not,” Selby said. “If they don’t, at least they’re aware that this is a change that could be made in the future.”

Troubled by turbines, shut down by the mayor

Thinking and thought police

An article on the 'ban' of videotaping that Mayor David Bolton doesn't like.  The Mayor reportedly felt somebody might "some day edit the videos in a way that distorts..." and feared what could come next. 

Troubled by turbines, shut down by the mayor | London | News | London Free Press:

For years, you see, no citizens attended council meetings at the tiny township office of Adelaide Metcalfe, pop. 3,000. They just didn't.

But that changed after energy companies proposed building up to 70 wind turbines. Since January, dozens have packed a makeshift gallery and a young woman who once babysat the mayor's kids has been setting up a camera and posting videos to YouTube.

Videographer Esther Wrightman kept calm during the clash Monday, asking police what law she was breaking and turning the camera off after a police officer said he would otherwise physically remove her.

Read the entire article at the London Free Press website - video of the Mayor's demand that Esther Wrightman turn the camera off, and the police intervention, is linked to from that article.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY PLANNERS DEAL BLOW TO WIND INDUSTRY

The latest news story from San Diego's Planning Commission includes Ontario's Barbara Ashbee.  This extensive report ends with a victory, at least temporarily, for opponents of big wind.

COUNTY PLANNERS DEAL BLOW TO WIND INDUSTRY | East County Magazine:

Barbara Ashbee at San Diego hearing

San Diego’s Planning Commission voted unanimously to have staff evaluate health impacts of wind turbines on people and wildlife. Commissioners balked at approving a proposed county wind ordinance or changes to the Boulevard community plan that could make it easier to gain approval of large-scale wind projects—taking the sails out of the wind industry.

“I am not willing to put this whole community in danger or change that community plan. I would like to bring this whole consideration to a grinding halt right now,” declared Commissioner Peder Norby after hearing evidence of health hazards that turbines pose to people and wildlife. Norby proposed that Commissioners demand that the Environmental Impact Report be reopened to evaluate solar as an alternative to wind energy.

By a unanimous vote (with Commission Adam Day absent), the Commission asked staff to come back on Friday, May 19 with details on the ramifications of reopening the EIR. They also ordered staff, which previously evaluated only “annoyance” aspects of wind power, to examine the health impacts posed by wind turbines to people and animals.

Read the entire article at the East County  Magazine website: view an excerpt from Barb Ashbee's testimony below: