Council to seek advice on appealing turbine REA

UPDATE: Council voted against taking immediate action and decided only to receive the report at this time.

In closed session following tonight’s council meeting at Shire Hall, councillors are to receive legal advice from the County Solicitor in regard to appealing the province’s recent decision to issue a Renewal Energy Appproval (REA) for the White Pines Development for 27 industrial turbines in South Marysburgh and Athol.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced approval Thursday, July 16 for the $195-200 million 20-year project.

Last week, Mayor Robert Quaiff wrote a letter written to premier Kathleen Wynne and minister of environment Glen Murray, requesting a moratorium on wind projects and requested a meeting.

“You have committed to listening to the local concerns of municipalities. I implore you to not only listen – but to truly hear our concerns – and discuss them with us. We are incredibly distraught over this decision and its devastating impact on our community,” he said in the letter.

Quaiff is a member of the Wainfleet Working Group supporting 90 “Unwilling Host” municipalities in Ontario to help address their concerns with industrial wind turbines.

Controversy has surrounded the wpd project, just as it has the nine turbine Gilead Power project at Ostrander Point which is heading back to the Environmental Review Tribunal to make a case for “remedy” that would protect the threatened Blanding’s Turtles. The Ontario Court of Appel reversed a lower court ruling regarding a REA approval. The decision reinstated the initial finding of the ERT that turbines would cause the turtles “serious and irreversible harm”.

wpd Canada hopes to begin construction this fall or next spring.

Any resident of Ontario may require a hearing by the Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) within 15 days after July 16, 2015 by written notice.