What ails you, Mr. Bentley?

London Free Press, by Harvey Wrightman, Kerwood
I’m so sorry to hear that poor Minister Bentley is getting anxiety attacks about the rural backlash for his “wind follies” program. Perhaps he is anxious about the Zephyr wind project near Watford which is a case study in everything that can go wrong. It’s what you get when green evangelists team up with door-to-door salesmen. Nothing works.

Now relax Chris. Please sit down and answer these questions for us, the rural people who are so upset with this mess your government is making. Let’s identify the problems:

1. The developer, Greenbreeze/Oneworld is bankrupt leaving four lawsuits filed by contractors and other parties for non-payment. The final “cost” was rumoured to be over $30,000,000 for 4 turbines, a tad high don’t you think?
   Further, on the remnants of the Oneworld website, we find, “No funds are expected to be available for secured creditors, unsecured creditors or the shareholders of Oneworld.”
   Where did the money go and who owns the project now? Oh well, who cares about the money part.
2. One of the wind turbines (# 3) hardly ever operates. It is said to be “defective”. Apparently the foundation was poured over a rather large, fresh water spring. As a result the tower is floating on a “bubble”. Turning the blades causes it to shake and ultimately lean.
   With all the stringent environmental controls that you have in place, how could they (the MOE) not know about this?
   This turbine may tip over as one did in Fenner, NY in 2009. I imagine that must cause you some anxiety.
3. It is said that the aviation warning light on # 3 does not always operate.
   Has Transport Canada been alerted? – more anxiety?
4. There is no phone number to contact the company. I suppose this means that like the public, YOU don’t know who to call either.
5. Oh, about all the “jobs” these projects bring. The blades and nacelles for this project came in from the US. The erection crew was not from Ontario nor was the mammoth 300 tonne crane. Both were shipped in from British Columbia – jobs ???

The turbines have large, bright letters on them spelling SAMSUNG.

That must add to your anxiety.