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Motion to stay turbine construction withdrawn

A community action group has withdrawn its motion to seek a stop to construction at the White Pines industrial wind turbine project in South Marysburgh.

The Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County (APPEC) appeared before theOntario Divisional Court in Toronto Friday, seeking to stop construction during the active movement period for the Blanding’s turtle – generally considered to be from April through October.

The Renewable Energy Approval (REA) allows White Pines Wind Inc. to build the project and restricts activities that may be undertaken during the Blanding’s turtle’s active period determined by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to be from May 1 to October 14 of each year.

The REA states there is to be no maintenance or construction unless faced with an unavoidable
situation. Restrictions on maintenance and construction was meant to limit traffic on the access roads which could result in increased mortality for Blanding’s turtles.

Orville Walsh, APPEC president, said documents recently filed by White Pines Wind Inc. with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), in support of White Pines’ application to build a transmission line from South Marysburgh to Picton, had indicated continuing construction of the project at the wind turbines sites during the prohibited period.

“It was this apparent contravention of the terms of the REA which prompted APPEC to request the stay on construction,” said Walsh. “During the course of Friday’s hearing, counsel for White Pines Wind Inc informed the Court that construction would only be conducted at one site during the May 1 through October 14 time period. With that understanding, APPEC withdrew its motion for the stay on construction.”

Meanwhile, APPEC, and the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists will host a Walk-a-Thon for Blanding’s Turtles, in support of the efforts of the South Shore Appeal Fund, on Tuesday, May 1 beginning at 10 a.m. from the intersection of Royal and Lighthall roads. Everybody is invited to participate. Lunch will follow for participants at the Milford Town Hall. Call Paula at 613-476-7693 or email paulapeelpec@yahoo.ca for details.

While concerns of increased traffic continue, concerns about trees being cut down on the Royal Road and Maypul Layn areas and destruction of two beaver dams that resulted in flooding of wetlands are the newest issue being tackled.

On Saturday, another citizens’ group, the County Coalition for Safe and Appropriate Green Energy, will host its annual meeting with speakers, at the Bloomfield Town Hall beginning at 2 p.m.

wpd is hosting its first Community Liaison committee meeting Tuesday, May 15 at the Wellington arena from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Filed Under: Local News

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  1. Chris Keen says:

    “During the course of Friday’s hearing, counsel for White Pines Wind Inc informed the Court that construction would only be conducted at one site during the May 1 through October 14 time period. With that understanding, APPEC withdrew its motion for the stay on construction.”

    And yet construction continues on all sites with the exception of #s 8,9 and 10 which begs the question – did wpd’s counsel lie to the Court or did wpd lie to their counsel?

    Where is the MOECC??

  2. Barb p says:

    How is any of this moving forward? The community has spoken and voted against this and the facts have clearly showed this is going to cost Ontario money to buy this power we don’t need and sell it at a loss. The government is so afraid that companies won’t invest in Ontario they are willing to do bad deals, ignore the harm to the endangered turtles and distroy an area of global interest for wild life and at risk birds. There are places thAt don’t have these sensitivities and have community support why not there? The cost is irreversible. What on “earth” are we doing?.

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