Category Archives: Ontario Wind

Ontario Wind, Property Rights, Willing Hosts

Niagara open for green business: Zimmerman

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Niagara open for green business: Zimmerman

Regional councillor bringing motion to declare Niagara a willing host

Grimsby Lincoln News – October 4, 2013

ByAmanda Moore

Debbie Zimmerman wants to make one thing clear: Niagara Region is a willing host.

The Grimsby regional councilor plans to introduce a motion to declare Niagara Region a willing host to renewable energy just one week after council failed to get a two-thirds majority vote to reconsider its support of West Lincoln and Wainfleet’s declarations as unwilling hosts. Regional council voted to support the two municipalities in July with a 15-8 vote. At the time, Zimmerman expressed concerns about possible legal and financial ramifications, suggesting council seek a legal opinion before voting.

“Wainfleet and West Lincoln have said they are not willing hosts to wind energy, point blank,” said Zimmerman. “That’s not what the rest of the Region has said.”

Zimmerman said the July motion cast some misconceptions — including the notion the region has declared itself an unwilling host.

“There is a misconception that the whole region is not in support of renewable energy,” Zimmerman sad. “And that’s just not true.”

Zimmerman looked down the road to Niagara Falls to prove that point.

“Niagara Falls is one of the largest renewable energy sources in Canada,” said Zimmerman, noting municipalities like Thorold, Welland and Fort Erie have embraced renewable energy as new industry. She said the declaration as a willing host is in line with the Green Energy Capital of Canada proclamation Regional council made in 2012.

“The Region may have supported Wainfleet and West Lincoln, now we are asking them to support the rest of the region,” Zimmerman said.

West Lincoln Mayor Douglas Joyner said little about the Sept. 19 Regional council meeting at last week’s township council meeting other than to thank the residents of West Lincoln for their continued support, after briefly updated council on what unfurled in regional chambers. He declined to comment when contacted by The News until Zimmerman introduces her motion — expected sometime this week for debate at the Oct. 10 council meeting.

While Coun. Sue Ellen Merritt was happy to see the region’s support for West Lincoln and Wainfleet stand, she was less than happy to learn of Zimmerman’s plans.

“Let’s be good neigbhours,” said Merritt, “and give them ours if they’re willing hosts.”

Wainfleet mayor April Jeffs says its time for the Region to drop the “unwillingness to host turbines” debate.

“We spent three hours listening to presentations and debating, and it didn’t change anything,” Jeffs said.

The Wainfleet mayor said Zimmerman’s motion is just a way around the reconsideration rules. Since last Thursday’s attempt failed, Jeffs said regional council would have to wait a year before it could reconsider the motion again.

But Zimmerman argued the new motion is not reconsideration, and is instead a new motion entirely.

“At the end of the day it’s another reconsideration motion,” Jeffs said. “I think it’s a back door way to override what they gave us.”

Jeffs said three other regional councils have already passed similar motions to support lower tier municipalities’ declaration as being an unwilling host of turbines. Those regions include Perth, Wellington and Grey counties.

“As far as I know they didn’t have these issues,” she said, adding all the infighting isn’t helping anyone on any front.

To date, 67 local municipalities have declared themselves unwilling hosts for turbines.

Grimsby’s regional councilor takes no issue with the declarations West Lincoln and Wainfleet have made for themselves.

“That’s fine, you can do that,” said Zimmerman. “But the rest of the Region may have a different view.”

This is why Niagara needs to declare itself, as a whole, a willing host to renewable energy. Especially since down the road in Niagara Falls is one of the largest renewable energy sources in the country — the falls itself.

“How can we declare ourselves as the green energy capital and not support renewable energy?” Zimmerman said.

Actual wind farms aren’t the only renewable projects to have economic impacts in the region. Through Niagara Region Wind Corp., which has an application before the province for a 230-megawatt wind farm in West Lincoln, German turbine manufacturer has set up a manufacturing facility in Beamsville with plans for a second Niagara manufacturing facility. TSP Canada Towers has set up shop in the former Dana auto parts manufacturing facility in Thorold — a city which has made investing in green energy a top priority. A number of solar companies have also popped up since the province legislated the Green Energy Act in 2009.

Niagara open for green business: Zimmerman.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms, ERT Appeal, Ontario Wind

WLWAG: Wind Battle Year in Review

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WLWAG Year in Review.   This year has presented many  difficulties and at times disappointments for wind action groups around Ontario but Wednesday night was definitely a bright moment for the West Lincoln Wind Action Group.
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Speakers, community members and WLWAG came to together at the Wellandport Community Hall to be updated on the status of the battle against the NRWC and the IPC projects.   Neil Schwitzer, chairperson of the event gave an informative overview of the status. Updates were also provided by the  leaders of  sub-committees and wind actions (health, environment, legal actions, appeals, communications, finances, fundraising etc.) as well as an update from our allied friends at “STOP” and “Mothers Against Turbines.”  A special thanks to Tricia Vaughn  who recognised a need for this  information update for the community and Deb Murphy who encouraged us all to spread the information.
Ed and Ann Fairfield relayed to the audience their own battle with the IPC and what their next step would be.  As always finances would be an issue and requested help with this.  They reminded us that this was really a community battle.
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Coming all the way from Goderich, Shawn Drennan was the  special speaker for the event.  He updated us on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms  battle against the GEA and its legislation and urged us all to “Unite the Fight”.  He stressed that we really needed to pool our resources and focus and that if he and his lawyer Julian Falconer were successful with their court case then it would have wide ranging implications for all wind projects and its victims across Ontario.
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Ontario Wind

Belwood Legal Strategy Meeting – Open Invitation – October 8, 2013

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Join us on Tuesday, October 8th for an important meeting about legal strategy, being hosted in Belwood.

 

Over the past several years many rural communities have been investigating their legal options in the fight against wind industrialization. Recently there has been a development that could be beneficial to all communities led by Barrister Julian Falconer.  The case is based on the merits of a Charter Challenge of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

 

Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.”  The Appeal states the right to security of a person and principles of fundamental justice have been violated.

 

Julian will be joining us in Belwood by teleconference to provide details on the case and the progress made to date. 

 

This is an opportunity to get first hand information on the status of the case as well as to discuss how we can work together to raise the necessary funds to support it.  The Belwood group is organizing this meeting because they believe the claim is a viable legal option.  After the presentation, their community will vote to determine financial support.  Other communities at risk from wind turbines are welcome to participate as the legal action has the potential to benefit all of us in rural Ontario.

 

Place:       Pine Meadows Retirement Community (Grand Hall)

Address:  8473 Wellington County Road 19 (between Fergus and Belwood on the north side of Lake Belwood)

Time:       7:00pm

Date:        Tuesday October 8th

 

If you plan on attending please contact Janet Vallery at jvallery@everus.ca

 

 

About Julian Falconer – Julian specializes in civil, constitutional and criminal litigation with a particular focus on state accountability.  He has successfully represented clients in many high profile cases including the Sammy Yatim family, Aron Firman, and the Ashley Smith Inquest. He was co-counsel on the Maher Arrar Case post 9/11.  According to Canadian Lawyer magazine Falconer, “Deserves a spot high on any list of the country’s top advocates.”    His alma mater, University of Toronto, has named him one of the 20th century’s 100 most notable graduates.

 

Charter of Rights and Freedoms, ERT Appeal, Government Misrepresentation, Ontario Wind

Current schedule for St Columbian/Julian Falconer

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The ERT for St Columban starts Monday, Sept 23 at 10.00 am. at Brussels Arena Community Hall.

Below please find list of witnesses.

Monday -motion- Jim Murray being allowed in to give evidence
-opening statements
-Ryans and Dixons evidence

Tuesday-Barb Ashbee
-Sandy McLeod

Wednesday-Nicky Horton
-Michauds

Some time Wednesday or Thursday there will need to be time
set aside for HALT to give evidence.

Thursday- Oliveria
Rick James (full afternoon)

Friday-  Tomlinson

Toronto (Tribunal venue)
Tuesday    October 1 Denton Miller (acoustician)
Dr. Baines
Wednesday  October 2 Dr. Moore
Hose Menendez

Ontario Wind

Moms speak out about turbines

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Mothers group takes message to energy minister

Moms speak out about turbines

Submitted photo

Mothers Against Wind Turbines took their message to Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli Monday. Pictured with the minister are Linda Rogers,  Anita Thornton, Xander Kidd, Marianne Kidd and Lauren Kidd.
Grimsby Lincoln News – Sept 20, 2013

A group of mothers from the West Lincoln and Glanbrook took their concerns about wind turbines proposed for their communities to the minister of energy.

After learning that Bob Chiarelli would be at the Babcock and Wilcox nuclear facility in Chatham on Monday, Mothers Against Wind Turbines decided to try their luck at a one-on-one conversation with the minister. After some back and forth with the minister’s assistant, they were told they could have five minutes with Chiarelli after the facility tour.

“We started off with questions related to the ongoing projects in the MOE queue and explaining our position on why existing projects needed to be cancelled moving forward,” said Marianne Kidd, a member of the group. “After he explained that they didn’t want to cancel those projects due to the legal ramifications while addressing history related to the gas plant scandals, we tried to sway him to our side expressing that millions more would be wasted if the projects were approved … especially looking at the next 20 years.”

The mothers discussed how these green energy projects were creating “energy poverty” by driving up electricity costs for the average customer.

The mothers also discussed health concerns.

“You are ruining our province,” Anita Thornton told the minister, after discussing how turbine placement does not take into consideration children with autism and other special needs.

Kidd explained her home will be surrounded by eight turbines within two kilometres from her home. Linda Rogers from Haldimand will have 16 within that same distance.

Chiarelli directed the mothers to log their concerns onto the Environmental Registry — which most have already done.

“After explaining to him that we were fully aware of  the process  and have been writing to the MOE repeatedly, we expressed  that once  our projects were approved … we will fight it with an [Environmental Review Tribunal] using money raised from garage sales  and spaghetti dinners.”

In the end, the mothers pleaded with the minister to work with his colleagues to find technicalities in existing projects so they do not get approved.

Ontario does not need the energy and already has eliminated coal.

“We are not sure if Minister Chiarelli was listening or if it  will lead anywhere … but we did appreciate the minister’s time  and willingness to meet  with us.”

The mothers will next take their concerns to regional council to talk about declaring Niagara “not a willing host” to wind turbines.

Moms speak out about turbines.

Government Misrepresentation, Ontario Wind, Willing Hosts

Attention Wind Developers – You may have some WILLING Hosts!!!

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Niagara Regional Council – September 19, 2013 – Anita Thornton

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After a  few hours of uncertainty, the council chambers erupted into  jubilant celebration and angry accusation.  With a vote of 16 Yeas and 11 Nays Tom Rankin and the NRWC lost their attempt to rescind Councils decision to support Wainfleet and West Lincolns “Not a  Willing Host” designation.

Shellie Correia opened her presentation with a rebuttal to Mr. Rankin’s previous council speech. Her points included how the Niagara Region was already the Green Capital of Canada due to the fact that Niagara Falls is the “cheapest and greenest” energy of all while expressing how water spill is occurring to displace the un-needed wind energy being produced in Ontario.  She also expressed how in Germany there are over 700 anti-wind groups, while hundreds more are across Europe.

Shellie and Marianne

Marianne Kidd, from Mothers Against Wind Turbines, focused her presentation on “Why Wind is a BAD deal for the Niagara Region”. After talking about how 8 “Skylon Tower” sized turbines would be surrounding her home if the NRWC project is approved, she went into more details regarding the Ontario Auditor General’s report and Property Value reductions.  Of importance was the fact that from 2008 -2012, Ontario Residential electricity consumers are paying almost 20% more than there were 4 years ago.

Francesco Macri, brought the Councilors attention to how Premier Kathleen Wynne’s thrown speech invited municipalities from across Ontario to declare themselves “Not a Willing Host”. He stated, “Clearly this statement also means local municipalities and their citizens have a right to declare themselves unwilling hosts for large projects that conflict with local needs and wishes. The issue raised in the Motion before you is not the viability of alternative energy, but the viability of local democracy”.

Mervin Croghan, CEO of NRWC and Randy Rahamim Spokesperson for the NRWC, presented a lack luster argument as they attempted to persuade council reminding them about all the money they have been throwing out to the Niagara Region. It was also noted that West Lincoln refused their Vibrancy Money offers.  They stated throughout the evening that this designation was perceived as Niagara Region itself not supporting Green Energy and was understating the importance of this industry in the Niagara Region.   As an example, German turbine manufacturer, Enercon, was delaying their investment to build a concrete form manufacturing plant in Port Colborne due to the perception it was not a supportive region.  Like Randi Rahamim correctly stated “perception is reality”.

The uncertainty of the outcome of the evening was a nail biter. Several council members including Zimmerman, Badawey and Mayor Sharpe of Welland were staunch supporters of Tom Rankin and his delegation.  However,as the motion was voted on Mayor Sharpe  voted “No”.He stood by his belief,”If you fail to protect the democratic rights of the citizens of West Lincoln and Wainfleet, then you will fail to protect the democratic rights of the citizens in your communities.”.It was stressed throughout the evening how many jobs would be created and how the influx of cash and investment would filter into the local economy and businesses.

Mayor April Jeffs questioned the number of jobs that would be created and argued that most of those manufacturing jobs were for a temporary interim. Croghan said that they would hire at least 100 employees as permanent positions once the project was complete.  That number seems questionable as the Erie Shore Windfarm with only 66 turbines employs only ten.

Mayor Joyner kept bringing up the elephant in the room: the 2011 auditor general report that clearly and concisely reports how the REA is not good for “Ontario”.

“No thorough and professional cost/benefit analysis had been conducted to identify potentially cleaner, more economically productive, and cost-effective alternatives to renewable energy; such as energy imports and increased conservation.” (AGO, 2011:97)

Later in the evening, after the Motion was rejected, Debbie Zimmerman from Grimsby brought forward another motion to declare the Niagara Region a Willing Host. This motion would encompass the entire Niagara Region; however the only 2 Municipalities where there were Wind Turbines proposed have declared themselves “UNWILLING”.

Are the constituents in the remaining Niagara Regional municipalities also willing have turbines in their backyard? If so, maybe the NRWC and Mr Rankin could work with those communities to move their projects there.

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Government Misrepresentation, Ontario Wind

Terence Corcoran: Ontario’s power disaster

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Financial Post – Terence Corcoran | 19/09/13 | Last Updated: 19/09/13 5:43 PM ET

Terence Corcoran: "The new premier, Kathleen Wynne, appears to be coasting through the power issue, issuing directives and installing ever more megawatts of wind power at huge cost."

Peter J. Thompson/National PostTerence Corcoran: “The new premier, Kathleen Wynne, appears to be coasting through the power issue, issuing directives and installing ever more megawatts of wind power at huge cost.”
  • New study highlights desperate need for reform the province’s vast dysfunctional and costly electricity regime

For almost five years FP Comment has inveighed against the Ontario government’s profoundly uneconomic and costly electricity regime, a dictatorial and monopolist system that uses taxes and subsidies to greenify the power system of the largest provincial economy in Canada.  As I wrote in 2009: “In the midst of a major economic meltdown, and with looming budget deficits totaling more than $18-billion, now might not be the best time for the government of Ontario to be embarking on a crushing new green energy policy that could add billions to the province’s electricity costs. But Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is nothing if not immune to the folly of his own righteous policies and the fiscal crisis he faces as a result.”

Since then, via former Canadian banker Parker Gallant’s ongoing series — Ontario’s Power Trip — along with reports from consultant Tom Adams and many others, the growing absurdity of the regime has been detailed and documented on this page: Rising costs, market distorting feed-in-tariffs, subsidies to wind and solar, exports of power to New York at below cost — not to mention the $1-billion scandal over cancelled gas plants.

The burden on the economy has yet to be fully measured, but the cost to consumers is easy to identify.  In 2007, the all-in retail price of electricity was 10.38 cents per kilowatt hour. Today, the price for the same electricity is about 15.5 cents — a 50% increase imposed on consumers despite a recession that saw economic growth fall along with electricity demand.

That the Ontario Liberal government has been able to dodge this giant policy folly is mystery of sorts, although perhaps no surprise given the squishy Liberal bias of the provincial media. The new premier, Kathleen Wynne, appears to be coasting through the power issue, issuing directives and installing ever more megawatts of wind power at huge cost.

Maybe a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute by an independent consultant will light a fire. The opening sentences of the report, by A.J.  Goulding of London Economics International, describes vast scope of the Liberal folly:

The province’s power sector today has an electricity oversupply, a mismatch between generator capabilities and supply needs, rising prices for final consumers and a lack of cost transparency, along with a record of volatile, often contradictory, policies. Consequently, private-sector electricity generators are unable to justify investment in the system without some form of government-backed contract.

While various provincial governments have announced laudable goals over the years, their failure to implement either sound planning or rely on market principles has meant that Ontarians are not getting electricity at the lowest possible cost. Projections suggest that Ontario residents and businesses will be paying substantially higher electrical bills over the next decade than if the provincial electricity system had instead relied on combined cycle natural gas turbine electricity generation,even when the potential costs of buying greenhouse gas emissions credits are taken into account. As well, Ontario’s Feed-in Tariff program, under which the province has contracted for extensive wind and solar power for some years into the future, will increase generation and transmission costs, further hiking electricity prices.

This SNAFU-like description should alert all to the perils and mass disfunction of Ontario’s existing power system.  In his report,  A New Blueprint for Ontario’s Electricity Market, Mr. Goulding notes that in New York State, where electricity is gas-generated, the cost of electricity has edged down (see graph below).  The generated cost of electricity (including surcharges) in Western New York moved close to 40 cents a megawatt hour at the end of 2012, while the Ontario generated price (including surcharges for wind subsidies etc.) rose to near 80 cents.  How can an economy be competitive when basic electricity rates are double those of a neighbouring state?

For a full description of the Ontario fiasco, I highly recommend Mr. Goulding paper.  He also recommends a wholesale reform of the system.  Whether all of his prescriptions should be adopted is a matter for a debate that is totally absent in a province that desperately needs a radical deconstruction and renewal of its electricity system.

 

Original Article Here http://opinion.financialpost.com/2013/09/19/terence-corcoran-ontarios-power-disaster/

ERT Appeal, Government Misrepresentation, Ontario Wind

Stop the Appeal – Save Ostrander Point PECFN – Sign Petition!

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You may not be aware that the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists won their appeal to cancel the wind project at Ostrander Point.  The ETR ruled that the Blanding Turtle would be harmed irreversibly and therefore overturned the Ministry’s decision.

Unfortunately our Ministry of Environment  and the wind company, Gilead, are appealing the ETR’s ruling.  It is back to court.
Cheryl Anderson of the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists created this petition in response to the outrageous appeal by the Ministry of the Environment (and the developer) of the ERT decision to protect the Blandings turtle at Ostrander Point from industrial wind development.  We must protect the South Shore of PEC.

The ERT decision must stand. We all know how important this issue is, and together we can do something about it!  Please sign right now and pass it along to friends and relatives.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Ostrander_Point_In_Prince_Edward_County/?erlqsfb

Gas Wells, Ontario Wind

Zoomer Radio AM 740 Wednesday (TODAY) at 11:15 am with Goldhawk GAS Safety Issues and Wind Projects

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Anne and Ed Fairfield will be interviewed by Dale Goldhawk on his “Fight Back” Show today, please join the call!  They will be discussing their recent letter to Kathleen Wynne and her Ministers, the MOE Director Vic Schroter, Tim Hudak and Brian Treble.

This is about a Gas Well situation on Sixteen Road that was properly installed many years ago near the Road Allowance.  Now the HAF Wind Energy Project wants to bury the Electrical Collector Line within 5 metres of one Gas Well.  The MNR Policies and Regulations say that nothing should be installed within 75 m of a Gas Well, and the proponents have no Engineer’s Report (required) to say otherwise, nor were they asked to produce one.

 The problems are these:

This case has reached the point where the Health and Safety of a very densely populated rural area of West Lincoln and Hamilton is threatened if no immediate action is taken.  There are 244 homes and families (not just receptors) within 2 km of these 5 Industrial Wind Turbines.

 Members of our community have told the MOE last year in the Commenting Process about our Gas Wells concern, yet the proponents and the Ministries granting Approval have not been held to account.

 Non-commercial natural gas may be odorless, tasteless, and colourless.  A private Gas Well may also produce gas containing Hydrogen Sulphide, which is poisonous and should be treated with caution  It is fatal to humans in small concentrations and causes rapid corrosion of pipes.

 These Gas Well pipes are very old, and do not need to be corroded any more.  They also connect to a house.   When we can smell sulphur at our water taps, it is a good indication that Hydrogen Sulphide is around.

 The very fact that we have Gas Wells in West Lincoln, and most of us rely on our Water Wells, indicates to us that we have a very short term problem now and a longer term problem ahead with Fracking for the Gas.

 Tune in and call in with your questions or concerns to 1-866-740-4740 or 1-416-30-0740 to Dale Goldhawk on Zoomer Radio Am 740 after 11 a.m.