Letter to the Editor

(also published in Temiskaming Speaker July 22, 2015)

 

Dear Editor,

Kathleen Wynne has sent the wind power developers to the unorganized and Crown lands of the North where there will be little resistance.  We want to believe we can show them otherwise. We are not anti-wind. We believe we need to pursue renewable energy possibilities for a better future--but in a responsible way. We believe they need to be located in the right place at the right time. 

 

Right now and for the unforeseeable future we are overproducing power in this province at an alarming rate. It is costing on average $170 million per month togetridofitwithnoendin sight, a cost we will pay for on our hydro bills again.

Instead of taking the opportunity to have a good look at the cost-benefit to the people of Ontario, the government is plowing ahead to sign more 20- year contracts and it makes no sense. When the global trend towards wind power is slow- ing, why is our government full steam ahead? 

 

wpd came to the valley a couple of years ago looking for private land contracts. Crown land was not yet available and in the time since then the government has moved quickly to create 29  “enhanced management areas” across the province. The next one closest to us is over in Portage Bay Road area. The area between North Bay up to Twin Lakes (includ- ing over towards Lady Evelyn) is polluted with them. Ministry of Natural Resources did not think the changes warranted public consultation because it was only “a minor change.” The minor change was needed to “modernize older designations” but mostly to prepare the areas for renewable energy develop- ments. And we believe renew- able energy involves a lot more than just focussing on wind. But to take a ministry with a man- date to protect our natural re- sources and its environment and ecosystems and turn them into promoters of industrial devel- opment--what a conflict of in- terest. The blasting, drilling and construction process will have huge and lasting impact without a doubt, and we are not prepared to let this happen without a huge public consultation. 

 

The language of public consultation is spoken of by the premier, it is written into the procurement documents, it is preached about to the wind developers, but it does not existand the only time we have to make our voice heard is before it is a project. The sentiment across the south is that it is a sad day for Ontario when you don’t matter--but that’s what the people of the North deal with in every issue--it’s not a new thing here.

 

You have stood before against things that don’t make sense and fought to be heard. This is no different. The problem is so very few people even know much yet about how far reaching this could become. This is just a toe in the door.  

  

It is so ironic that before a wind developer can even "get to the table” to bid on the project they must have shown due diligence and a good portion of that merit is through public consultation.   wpd has failed miserably to engage. 

 Flood their office at 1-888- 712-2401 ext. 111 (Ian) or 118 (Kevin) with your concerns.

 

(And this from my own phone logs (Linda Roberts)  for a more personal chat you can try their cell phones: Ian MacRae (416)-300-9020 and Kevin Surette at (647)523-8142) 

 

Go online and check out the Protect Lorrain Valley website and Facebook Page. Sign the online or “on the ground” petition. Google “Wind concerns Ontario.” Click here to access the “Big Wind” documentary by TVO. Educate yourself and what you will find is that the big monies, multinational, multimillionaires and their lobby groups are the ones who will gain--not the people of Ontario. Talk to your family, friends and neighbours. Help us to write letters to our governments and authority body (IESO). Talk to your council and make sure they have not signed support documents. ...

Email your concerns through the contact page on the website  www.protectlorrainvalley.info and access the online petition here.

 

The premier halted an off-shore project in Lake Ontario because the people of the surrounding area spoke out. 

 

We have sent a letter to her requesting the same respect.

 

She said “not enough is known about the long-term effects of wind turbines in fresh water.”

 

We say “not enough is known about the long-term effects of wind turbines in our vast areas of Crown land forest and wild- life habitats of the North.”

 

We are simple people--we are not doormats and we are deeply

concerned. 

 

Rick and Carol Forbes

Lorrain Valley, July 2015