Monthly Archives: June 2012
Alberta rancher told she was not welcome in Ontario
By Lynda Hillman-Rapley, Lakeshore Advance
Traveling all the way from Alberta to tell people in Ontario about wind turbines may have been extreme and that is exactly what protesters voiced at a meeting last week.
To a full house, mostly protesters, Heidi Eijgel took a stab at explaining her experience with turbines, but the reception was less than welcoming. Dr. Tim Weis, director of renewable energy and efficiency policy with the Pembina Institute was also on hand to facilitate discussion and answer questions.
Eijgel lives in Pincher Creek Alberta, a stretch of farmland with a population of 3,500. In that area there are approximately 400 wind turbines, a lot of flat land and a lot of wind. She wanted to tell the people in Ontario how wonderful the turbines are that they do not affect her horses.
“Go home,” was the reaction of the people who came to the meeting at the Alhambra Hall, south of Grand Bend. Pembina rented the room for the public meeting.
While Alberta may be better known for its oil and gas resources, it is also the birthplace of wind energy in Canada. The first wind farm — in Pincher Creek, Alberta — began producing electricity in 1993, and now there are communities and landowners in southern Alberta who have almost 20 years of experience with wind turbines on their own land, and on their neighbours’ land. Read the rest of this entry
Pembina Institute boycotted in Chatham
Ed. Note: There was a general boycott of the Chatham Pembina Institute meeting, as the London venue on the previous night was not allowing those who were present to speak. If they did, security and police were called in to remove them. How’s that for freedom of speech??
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Albertan co-exists with industrial wind farm
By Blair Andrews, Chatham Daily News
Emotions remained calm as 20 people turned out for a wind turbine meeting in Chatham Wednesday night. Despite the low attendance, the event still produced some thoughtful exchanges on the controversial renewable energy source.
The meeting, held at the Sunset Lounge (the former CAW Hall), was organized by the Pembina Institute of Alberta. It was the third of three meetings held this week, following sessions in Grand Bend and London.
During the meeting Heidi Eijgel, a rancher from Pincher Creek, Alta., shared her experience of living next to Canada’s first commercial wind farm for more than a decade.
Heidi and her husband Dave raise horses on a ranch near approximately 60 wind turbines (the closest is about 700 metres).
Eijgel told the meeting they don’t own any wind turbines and she was speaking in favour of the development as a volunteer.
Noting that 2003 was interesting year for the couple, she said wind companies as well as oil and gas companies that were planning developments in their area approached them.
The latter group was seeking to build a sour gas well.
“It was a really challenging time for me and my husband because we had found our dream farm, and I don’t know if I could have lived there with a sour gas well in our backyard,” said Eijgel.
She added she felt she was being bullied and “lied to” over the development.
The relationship with the wind company, she said, was completely opposite.
“We had a good rapport and they answered our questions,” said Eijgel.
As for living near the turbines, Eijgel doesn’t find them bothersome.
“To me it sounds like a train off in the distance,” she noted.
She also said the turbines also don’t bother her horses or other livestock on the other farms in the area.
On potential wild life damage, she noted the company took steps to mitigate the turbines’ impact on bats.
The measures were implemented following a study of a rise in deaths of bats in the area.
Pembina officials said the purpose of the meeting was to have a conversation and start a dialogue rather than seek a consensus.
And the meeting delivered in the regard.
Nikki Horton gave a different perspective of living near turbines.
The Dealtown resident said she has a lot in common with Eijgel, noting that she and her husband our living in their dream home and she supports the concept of green energy.
But for Horton that is where the similarities ended.
“Unfortunately, for the people in this area, there are far less stories than yours,” said Horton.
“In a way you give me hope that wind turbines can function in certain areas at certain distances but then, at the same time, I think you’re lucky right now. Tomorrow you could wake up and there could be another 1,000 (turbines).”
Horton, reading from prepared notes wondered if Eijgel would feel the same about turbines if they were so close that the house “literally shook” and things would vibrate off the shelves.
She then listed a number of health concerns including headaches, nausea, heart palpitations, trouble sleeping and rashes.
“It’s been four years for me and I just hope something I said might resonate to the fact that more homework needs to be going on,” said Horton.
The Turbine Lament
This is a song written and sung by written and is sung by Ernan O’Donnell in response to the proliferation of wind turbines in Donegal, Ireland. The lyrics are as follows:
God bless the hills of Donegal, their days are nearly done,
For no more upon their heathered slopes will hare or rabbit run.
No more the stately stag shall stand, so straight and proud and tall,
Just turbine sores forevermore on the hills of Donegal.
The majestic golden eagle, the falcon and the duck,
Must fly elsewhere to obtain their fare, there’ll be nothing here but muck.
No honking geese, no whirring snipe, no grouse nor pheasant call,
Just turbine sores forevermore on the hills of Donegal. Read the rest of this entry
Wind opponents generate dissension
Pembina Institute presenters got an earful from Ontario residents opposed to wind turbines
Better Farming
GRAND BEND – It was a chilly wind that blew through the Alhambra Hall Monday night for a pro-renewable-energy event hosted by the Pembina Institute. The majority of the 80 or so people who showed up were wind opponents and they spent most of the evening shouting their disapproval. At one point, two OPP officers showed up, walked into the back of the room where many of the wind opponents stood and left without incident.
The event, intended to share views about wind energy from a landowner in Alberta and learn about Ontario issues around wind turbines, was the first of three. A second meeting is planned for 7 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) in London at Aeolian Hall and a third in Chatham at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sunset Lounge. In spite of Monday’s reception, Tim Weis, director of renewable energy and efficiency policy at Pembina, a not-for-profit sustainable energy think tank, says they will go ahead as planned. Alberta horse rancher Heidi Eijgel, who brought a pro-wind view to the meeting, said she does not plan to alter her presentation tonight. The presentation includes slides and videos of her ranch, especially of her horses.
Anti-wind demonstrators first appeared outside but moved into the hall as the 7 p.m. meeting was about to begin, some of them with their signs. A large group stood at the rear of the small hall but many others were scattered among the crowd. It was hard to tell who was who. Read the rest of this entry
Not voting is not doing job
London Free Press
When did it become OK for our representatives in the Ontario Legislature not to vote on critical bills, such as the provincial budget?
Again the NDP, under Andrea Horwath’s leadership, did not vote. This is not acceptable.
She got a surcharge on folks who earn more than $500,000 a year. These are the folks who are for the most part are trying to run and create businesses and give Ontarians an opportunity to work.
Horwath ignored all the scandals, such as Ornge, as well as the recommendations from the Ontario auditor general regarding the industrial wind turbines, for example, single-source contracts to Samsung and removing citizens’ rights in the Green Energy Act.
Horwath should not talk out of both sides of her mouth. Why is she so scared to vote this government down? Is she worried about her pension?
Horwath should be ashamed, and so should the provincial NDP for this disgraceful use of public trust.
Graham Schofield
Kerwood
Green energy divisive
London Free Press
The failed alternative energy policies of the McGuinty government are dealing massive damage to the hard-hit region of Southwestern Ontario.
Rural communities are being destroyed and property values are plummeting.
London would do well to take note of the gross encroachments occurring in the region or it runs the risk of watching our farmland suffer.
If the McGuinty Liberals are expecting more wind turbines in the region, then the Progressive Conservatives can be expecting more votes in the next election.
James Daniels, London
Boralex installs MET tower in N. Middlesex
Boralex wrote a short note to North Middlesex council just to inform that that they are installing a MET tower, and that apparently, “many of your neighbours have already indicated they would like to be part of the project”. BS. In any case, they don’t even say WHERE they are installing the MET tower – I guess they don’t have to tell the township? Who needs a permit for anything around here anymore – as long as it’s tied to green energy!
Richard Wakefield in Parkhill on wind turbine performance
Richard Wakfield, the brains behind Ontario Wind Performance , speaks in Parkhill on June 13th about why wind turbines do NOT work in Ontario.
Adelaide Metcalfe ruling allows for uneasy peace
WIND TURBINE OPPOSITION: Council gives its OK for videotaping, signs and talking, all activities it flirted with banning, at its meetings
By JONATHAN SHER, The London Free Press
In a rural landscape soon to be home to an industrial wind farm, an uneasy truce has been reached between the township mayor and activists fighting the arrival of turbines.
Gone for now are police who were called in twice to May meetings by Adelaide Metcalfe Mayor David Bolton to stop a wind opponent from videotaping the proceedings.
Missing at its most recent meeting in June were vociferous critics confronting Bolton with shouts and signs calling for his resignation as they did in May. Instead, council decided to allow videotaping, signs and talking, all activities it had flirted with banning.
But while the flashpoints have passed for now, it’s clear neither side trusts the other. Council members mused about resigning, but Bolton said none considered that a serious option. Read the rest of this entry
An ill wind blowing
By Jonathan Sher, The London Free Press
Crowds no longer come to the general store Joe Wood’s grandfather built 107 years ago.
Most of its products are gone too, the rural locale west of Strathroy too far from suppliers. Now, Wood is surrounded mainly by guns and ammo at the store.
Mayor David Bolton still stops by mornings to share gossip and drink a diet Pepsi. So Wood knows something about the kerfuffle at the township office of Adelaide-Metcalfe, a provincial creation that joined two tiny hamlets and farmland into a new municipality with only 3,000 people.
This week, more than 100 residents came to council — that’s 1 out of every 30 residents, akin to 12,000 Londoners showing up at city hall.
Some carried signs and shouted for Bolton to resign.
Others carried generations of ties to the area and spoke of their concerns diplomatically.
All were there to fight for democratic rights that in recent weeks have come under question:
- Bolton twice phoned police to stop citizens from videotaping meetings. Police threatened an arrest the first time, but stayed out the second.
- Deputy Mayor Adrian DeBruyn voted to set fees for wind turbine permits, even though his son has signed 32 leases with a wind company.
- The township hired the mayor’s kids to shut off lights of a park and take away a few garbage bags.
- The husband of the township’s administrator threatened a woman snapping his picture outside a private meeting between Suncor Energy, members of council and landowners who have signed leases for turbines. Read the rest of this entry
June 4th – Say NO to Adelaide-Metcalfe ban on videoing- again!
Adelaide-Metcalfe Meeting
Say NO to Sec. 13.3!!!
Date: June 4
Time: 7:00PM
Place: 2340 Egremont Dr. , Adelaide
Ayyayiiii! OK, so is everyone ready to attend yet another Adelaide-Metcalfe council meeting? Please read through this- I know it is lengthy.
Adelaide-Metcalfe June 4th Agenda
From the top down- points to note:
- ABSENT WITH NOTICE: Councillor Nick Stokman
- The meeting will be held in the Lower Level of the Township Building.
- The Meeting will be taped by the Township of Adelaide Metcalfe and will be downloaded on the Municipality’s website.
- The room capacity is rated and this matter will be enforced for the safety of everyone.
- Please respect that Adelaide Metcalfe residents will have priority to attend the meeting.
Got all that?
That’s only the beginning:
On the agenda you will see that the procedural bylaw is still looking to be amended so that videotaping is banned: Read the rest of this entry