Category Archives: Ontario Wind

Ontario Wind

Wind Energy – 64 Whole MW at 6 AM This Morning

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Good morning Ontario.  While you are eating your breakfast on this chilly April morning, industrial wind turbines are cranking away to keep the lights on and those furnaces running.  Here is an example how completely useless and wasteful these machines are to supply power to a modern society.

In Ontario we have 32,961 MW of installed generator capacity to power our grid.  This includes Nuclear, Hydro, Gas/Oil, Coal, Wind, Biofuels etc.  At 6 AM, Ontarions had a power demand of 16,721 MW.   Industrial Wind Energy was able to contribute a measly 64 MW. According to the IESO site we have here in Ontario 1,725 MW of installed wind power.  I would laugh if that were not so downright frightening.  This is what our province has committed our future to.  The dark ages are coming.   This chart is from the Sygration site from April 16, 2014.

TOTAL WIND 368 262 147 116 91 64 99
Direct Effects, Environment, How to Fight Big Wind..., Ontario Wind

Naturalists to pay Gilead $40,000, reduced from $120,000 demand

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April 14, 2014 – http://www.countylive.ca

DSCN1679Prince Edward County’s Field Naturalists will pay $40,000 in legal costs instead of $120,000 demanded by Gilead Power.

The Divisional Court has found turbine project developer Gilead Power’s demand for $120,000 in legal costs from the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists “was too high and lowered it to $40,000,” said Myrna Wood, PECFN president. “More importantly, the reason given is that “clearly the case is of important public interest. It is significant that two judges have based decisions on the importance of the case to the public interest. We see this as a positive indicator that permission to appeal will be given. We will also be able to use this argument for an appeal against paying any legal costs to Gilead or the Ministry.”

The naturalists group has filed its submission to the Court of Appeal asking for leave to appeal the Divisional Court reversal of the decision of the Environmental Review Tribunal.

Last July, the Tribunal revoked the approval of a Gilead Power wind turbine project at Ostrander Point Crown Land Block in the centre of the Prince Edward County’s South Shore Important Bird Area. There have been more than 20 appeals of Renewable Energy Approvals since the Green Energy Act came into effect in 2009. All but the PECFN appeal resulted in dismissals.

“In allowing PECFN’s appeal, the Tribunal rendered a landmark and precedent-setting decision,” said Wood.

Soon after the Divisional Court decision, Gilead Power announced its intention to start construction in April.  PECFN brought an urgent motion for a Stay of construction and leave to appeal the Divisional Court decision to the Court of Appeal.

In his decision submitted on March 25, Judge Blair of the Appeal Court held that he had “no hesitation in granting the Stay” because the issues raised on the proposed appeal are of “broad public implication in the field of environmental law”.  Further, he found that the irreparable harm criterion had been satisfied on the basis that “once a habitat is destroyed, it is destroyed – for at least short-term purposes, in any event – and the species sought to be protected here is a vulnerable and endangered species.”

“The notice of intention to seek leave to appeal has attracted increasing expressions of support for PECFN’s opposition to industrialization of the South Shore IBA,” said Wood. “We believe that this important test of Ontario environmental law encourages other environmental and legal organizations to apply to intervene in the appeal.”

The struggle to save Ostrander Point has gained a broader dimension since two other wind turbine projects in the area have been submitted to the government Registry (EBR) for public comment, she said.

The White Pines proposal includes 29 turbines spread across private lands within the IBA surrounding Ostrander Point.  Windlectric Inc. proposes 36 turbines spread across the Amherst Island’s natural areas.  Residents of Amherst Island have applied to the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto for a judicial review of the Ministry of Environment’s approval of the application.  They challenge the company’s claims that their plan has mitigated any harmful effects to wildlife and people prior to construction.

“The cumulative effect of proposed turbine projects surrounding eastern Lake Ontario creating a barrier across the eastern flyway of migrating birds and bats is a concern for all naturalists,” said Wood. “If approved, these projects will displace wildlife from shorelines, the most important staging and resting habitats for many species.  Renewable energy will not be ‘green’ if it destroys significant wildlife habitats.  Recognition of this fact is demonstrated by two recent project cancellations. British Petroleum has cancelled a project on Cape Vincent across from Wolfe Island.  On the Lake Erie Pelee flyway two proposed projects in Ohio have been cancelled due to the threat of a lawsuit by Black Swamp Bird Observatory and the American Bird Conservancy.”

The Appeal Court’s decision on the request to appeal may not be made until June.

“In May, everyone will be enjoying one more spring migration and searching for emerging Blanding’s turtles along the South Shore firmly resolved to continue in the struggle to Save Ostrander Point,” said Wood.

More at www.saveostranderpoint.org

Original Article Reference here: http://countylive.ca

ERT Appeal, Government Misrepresentation, Ontario Wind

Wind Concerns asks Ombudsman to investigate wind power approvals

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NEWS RELEASE

April 14, 2014

Wind Concerns asks Ombudsman to investigate wind power approvals

Wind Concerns Ontario, the coalition of individuals and community groups concerned about the impact of large-scale wind power projects, sent a letter to Ombudsman of Ontario, requesting an investigation of aspects of the approval process for wind power projects.

“Our members, and Ontario municipalities, are very concerned about the lack of transparency that appears to be the hallmark of the approval of these power projects,” says Jane Wilson, president, Wind Concerns Ontario.

“For example, the Ministry of the Environment has ‘deemed complete’ documentation for some projects when in fact environmental studies and assessments for emergency response and aviation safety are not complete and in some cases absent entirely,” Wilson says. “This is not acceptable, and not the ‘fair’ and ‘transparent’ process the government claims it fosters.”

At least one Ontario community has already taken legal action based on the fact it believes documentation to be incomplete: the citizens’ group in Amherst Island filed for a judicial review in March, citing numerous flaws and deficiencies in the wind power developer’s application.

Wind Concerns Ontario also asked about the appropriateness of large wind power developers offering money to municipalities in return for an expression of municipal support, referring to Samsung’s recent offer to the community of Southgate, which was eventually refused by the local government.

“This looks  like Ontario’s small towns are literally up for sale to huge power developers,” Wilson explains.

Ontario municipalities are being allowed to have more input into decisions about large-scale wind power generation facilities, but still do not have a “veto” according to the Minister of Energy, despite community concerns.

View the letter to the Ombudsman here:

April 2014 Ombudsman Letter

windconcerns@gmail.com

Original Article Here: http://www.windconcernsontario.ca/wind-concerns-ontario-asks-ombudsman-to-investigate/

Environment, harm to wildlife, Ontario Wind

PECFN Files for leave to Appeal Divisional Court Ruling

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PECFN Files for leave to Appeal Divisional Court Ruling

For immediate Release

Picton: PECFN has filed their submission to the Court of Appeal asking for leave to appeal the Divisional Court reversal of the decision of the Environmental Review Tribunal.  Last July the Tribunal revoked the approval of a Gilead Power wind turbine project at Ostrander Point Crown Land Block in the centre of the Prince Edward County South Shore Important Bird Area. There have been more than 20 appeals of Renewable Energy Approvals since the Green Energy Act came into effect in 2009. All but the PECFN appeal resulted in dismissals. In allowing PECFN’s appeal, the Tribunal rendered a landmark and precedent-setting decision.

 

Soon after the Divisional Court decision Gilead Power announced its intention to start construction in April.  PECFN brought an urgent motion for a Stay of construction and leave to appeal the Divisional Court decision to the Court of Appeal.  In his decision submitted on March 25, Judge Blair of the Appeal Court held that he had “no hesitation in granting the Stay” because the issues raised on the proposed appeal are of “broad public implication in the field of environmental law”.  Further he found that the irreparable harm criterion had been satisfied on the basis that “once a habitat is destroyed, it is destroyed – for at least short-term purposes, in any event – and the species sought to be protected here is a vulnerable and endangered species.”

 

On April 4, the Divisional Court found that Gilead’s demand for $120,000 legal costs from PECFN was too high and lowered it to $40,000.  More importantly, the reason given is that “clearly the case is of important public interest”.  It is significant that two judges have based decisions on the importance of the case to the public interest.  “We see this as a positive indicator that permission to appeal will be given” commented, Myrna Wood, PECFN president.  “We will also be able to use this argument for an appeal against paying any legal costs to Gilead or the Ministry”.  “The notice of intention to seek leave to appeal has attracted increasing expressions of support for PECFN’s opposition to industrialization of the South Shore IBA. We believe that this important test of Ontario environmental law encourages other environmental and legal organizations to apply to intervene in the appeal.” Wood continued.

 

The struggle to save Ostrander Point has gained a broader dimension since two other wind turbine projects in the area have been submitted to the government Registry (EBR) for public comment.  The White Pines proposal includes 29 turbines spread across private lands within the IBA surrounding Ostrander Point.  Windlectric Inc. proposes 36 turbines spread across the Amherst Island’s natural areas.  Residents of Amherst Island have applied to the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto for a judicial review of the Ministry of Environment’s announcement that the project is deemed complete.  They challenge the company’s claims that their plan has mitigated any harmful effects to wildlife and people prior to construction.

The cumulative effect of proposed turbine projects surrounding eastern Lake Ontario creating a barrier across the eastern flyway of migrating birds and bats is a concern for all naturalists.  If approved, these projects will displace wildlife from shorelines, the most important staging and resting habitats for many species.  Renewable energy will not be ‘green’ if it destroys significant wildlife habitats.  Recognition of this fact is demonstrated by two recent project cancelations. British Petroleum has cancelled a project on Cape Vincent across from Wolfe Island.  On the Lake Erie Pelee flyway two proposed projects in Ohio have been cancelled due to the threat of a lawsuit by Black Swamp Bird Observatory and the American Bird Conservancy.

 

The Appeal Court’s decision on our request to appeal may not be made until June.  In May, everyone will be enjoying one more spring migration and searching for emerging Blanding’s turtles along the South Shore firmly resolved to continue in the struggle to Save Ostrander Point.

-30-

For more information: Cheryl Anderson 613-471-1096, cherylanderson23@sympatico.ca
Cheryl Anderson

28 Low St., Picton ON K0K 2T0

613-471-1096

613-849-7743 (cell)

@saveostranderpt

www.saveostranderpoint.org

fighting big wind., Ontario Wind, Protecting our children

Spring Fling A Great Success

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Spring Fling 2Spring Fling 1

As residents filled into the Wellandport Community Center, it was clear to all that the West Lincoln, Wainfleet and Haldimand communities are not ready to give up the fight against the NRWC Turbine project anytime soon.  The event was hosted by the Mothers Against Wind Turbines and all funds raised will help in the fight against Industrial Wind Power. Drinks, Food and good times were had by all as everyone got to catch up after a tireless comment period earlier in the year.

Spring Fling 3

Thank you to all who donated gifts for the Silent Auction and to all the volunteers who helped! We could not have done it without the support of so many hard-working friends from the community, who worked tirelessly to make sure everything was perfect! 

 

Spring Fling 4

Photos by Stefanos Karatopis

Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Corruption, fighting big wind., Government corruption, Government Misrepresentation, legal challenges, Ontario Wind

Abuse of Power – Letter to Ministry of the Attorney General

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Contracts Cancelled, Ontario Wind

NEWS RELEASE – ENERGY MINISTER CAN CANCEL WIND POWER CONTRACTS

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From Wind Concerns Ontario

NEWS RELEASE

March 4, 2014 IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ENERGY MINISTER CAN CANCEL WIND POWER CONTRACTS

Despite statements made to the media by Ontario Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli that it would be “illegal” to cancel Feed In Tariff contracts with wind power developers, court documents show that the opposite is true, Wind Concerns Ontario states in a letter to the Minister today.

“The decision in Trillium vs. Ontario, 2013, clearly states that governments are free to alter policies in the public interest,” says Jane Wilson, WCO president. “As well, a legal opinion from Osler Hoskins Harcourt advises that companies in the renewable power business participate in government subsidy programs ‘at their own risk.’ That means, Mr. Chiarelli and his government could cancel these multi-million-dollar contracts if they want to.”

At present, Ontario has 55 wind power projects in various stages of approval; if all are approved the costs to Ontario could be more than $1 billion a year or $22 billion over the 20-year life of the contracts.

“Mr. Chiarelli said in the Legislature that Ontario has a surplus of power,” Wilson says. “The question for Ontario now is, why not cancel these contracts for power we don’t need and can’t afford? Does he answer to Ontarians, or the wind power lobby?”

CONTACT: Jane Wilson  1-855-517-0446 / 613-489-3591

Animals and turbines, Corruption, Destruction from turbines, Environment, ERT Appeal, harm to wildlife, legal challenges, Ontario Wind

Sad news Ostrander Point ERT Appeal Decision revoked by divisional court

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Court favours wind turbines over Blanding’s turtle

An Ontario court has ruled that an environmental tribunal erred when it rejected a proposed wind farm that threatens the habitat of Blanding’s turtles.

By John Spears Toronto Star

Blanding’s turtle is in trouble again: An Ontario court has cleared the way for a wind farm that an environmental tribunal says will threaten the turtle’s habitat.

The modest reptile had stood in the way of a wind farm at Ostrander Point in Prince Edward County.

But a divisional court panel ruled Thursday that the environmental tribunal made six errors of law in reaching its conclusion that the wind farm would cause “serious and irreversible harm” to the turtle.

The court restored the decision by provincial officials, allowing Gilead Power to proceed with the project, which would erect nine big wind turbines on the site.

It was a bitter blow to local nature and conservation groups. They had argued the wind farm – and the increased traffic associated with it – would harm not just the turtles, but also birds, bats and the rare “alvar” ecosystem at Ostrander Point.

The court sided with Gilead.  Read rest of article.

Canada Wind, Corruption, Government Misrepresentation, Ontario Wind

Wind power approvals pushing Ontario hydro bills up

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February 11, 2014
Wind Power Project Approvals Driving Up Cost of Ontario’s Electricity
By Parker Gallant
The provincial government would have us believe it is taking steps to manage rapidly rising electricity costs. Meanwhile, in the background, they are pushing 55 wind turbine projects through the Renewable Energy Approval process, projects  that will add $1.1 billion per year to Ontario’s electricity costs.  The impact of these turbine projects is 20 times the cost of the gas plant relocations.
The 230-megawatt  (MW) Niagara Region Wind Project proposed for West Lincoln and Wainfleet in the Niagara Region alone will add $78 million annually to Ontario’s electricity costs when approved.  The cost over its 20-year contract is $1.6 Billion.  Rather than declining or delaying these 55 projects, the provincial government continues to issue approvals and increasing electricity costs to levels that Ontario household and business users cannot afford.
In fact, wind power projects continue to be approved almost weekly despite Ontario’s current surplus of electricity.  Some operators of existing wind power generation facilities are actually being paid not to produce electricity, and neighbouring jurisdictions like New York and Michigan are being paid to take Ontario’s surplus power, which they in turn use to attract jobs away from Ontario with cheap electricity.  To create capacity on the grid for the expensive power generated by wind turbines, Ontario is also idling the Niagara hydro plants which in the past have powered Ontario’s economy by supplying cheap clean electricity.
The truth is that wind is not a reliable source of electric power.  In Ontario, wind turbines generate most of their electricity at night, and in the fall and winter months—exactly when we don’t need it. To provide the electricity needed by the province during the day, and in the hot summers, Ontario has had to supplement wind turbines with gas plants to provide electricity when the wind is not blowing.  This means that the average Ontario electricity user will not only pay about $220 annually for the cost of the wind turbine contracts but also another $200 annually to pay for the base costs of the gas plants needed to back them up.  Ontario electricity ratepayers could do a lot with that $420.
While the government argues that it has no option but to proceed with these projects, Ontario court have confirmed that the Feed-in-Tariff contracts issued for these projects only allow the proponent to enter a “complex regulatory process that might have led to approvals” and that the Environmental Project Act gives the Ministry of the Environment Director “broad powers to issue, reject, or amend Renewable Energy Approvals.”  The known impacts of existing wind power projects on communities in rural Ontario give the Ministry of the Environment Director a basis for rejecting or delaying these projects.  The Ontario government is pursuing wind power without a proper cost-benefit analysis, as was pointed out by the Auditor-General in 2011; no analysis was done before launching into the wind power program, or since. Citing benefits to the environment, is not an appropriate rationale:  with the coal plants closed, there is no need for concern about pollution from them, and there are also valid concerns about environmental damage and harm to wildlife from wind power plants.
For example, the government’s own Environmental Review Tribunal revoked approval to construct the Ostrander Point project last July because the project would cause “serious and irreversible harm” to the endangered Blanding’s turtles native to the area.  Rather than accepting that decision, however, the Ministry of the Environment partnered with the wind industry in January to appeal this ruling in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto; the Ministry is trying to overturn the decision to protect the turtles.  Similarly, the Ministry continues to support the Wainfleet Wind Energy project, despite the obvious dangers presented to users of the nearby Skydive Burnaby facility.
Electricity costs in Ontario are now among the highest in North America. Ontario households and businesses have reached the limit of their capacity to pay for this Green Energy experiment. It is time for the Ontario government to stop approving more wind turbine projects, like the Niagara Region Wind Project, that will drive up the cost of electricity in the province for the next 20 years while generating electricity we do not need.
Parker Gallant is a former vice-president with the TD Bank, a former director with Energy Probe, and currently an energy analyst and commentator. He is vice-president of Wind Concerns Ontario.
Corruption, fighting big wind., Ontario Wind, Property Rights

In Ontario – Wind Energy Meeting Silences Public

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Posted at No Frakking Consensus by Canadian author and journalist Donna Laframboise

http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2014/02/07/wind-energy-meeting-silences-the-public/