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Suncor/Acciona host media event in Huron-Kinloss It was a festive day on Mon, Sept 24 for those who support industrial wind turbines as oil and gas giant Suncor Energy Products Inc. and Spanish company Acciona Energy, the largest wind developer in the world, held the dedication of their first wind power project in Ontario while security guards looked on. As well as the dedication and speeches, the companies also announced it will be putting a joint $30,000 toward the Ripley’s $230,000 Lewis Park project in recognition of Huron-Kinloss’s support for the project. Host landowners were part of the ceremony, receiving a desktop sized solar-powered wind turbine as a small token of thanks from Suncor/Acciona. A list of speakers included Peter Duprey, Chief Executive Officer of Acciona Energy who said that Canada ranks seventh in the world in renewable energy and that he “is proud to be part of the renewable energy revolution in Canada.” Steve Williams, Chief Operating Officer for Suncor Energy said the company is not just in the oil sands business and that they are “looking for support” from the federal and provincial government. He also thanked Huron-Kinloss residents for their patience during the construction stage. Ontario’s Minister of Energy and MPP for Windsor-St. Clair Dwight Duncan also spoke to the crowd, saying that not long ago there were seven industrial turbines in the province and that number has now risen to 700. Duncan said that because of wind power, Ontario’s coal plants could be closed by 2014, up from 2007 as promised by the premier during the last provincial election. Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell was next at the podium, saying that out of every four megawatts of electricity produced in Ontario, one megawatt comes from Huron-Bruce. Bruce County is home to the Bruce Power nuclear site, which is in the process of adding an additional 1,500 megawatts to the Ontario power grid by late 2009 or early 2010 with the restart of Units 1 and 2 alone. That number will be much higher, with the completion of units 3 and 4. The 38-turbine Ripley Wind project is rated to produce76-megawatts of electricity to Ontario under ideal conditions. Huron-Kinloss Mayor Mitch Twolan joked with the crowd, informing the provincial representatives that the Township of Huron-Kinloss was responsible for nice weather for the ceremony, saying weather for events such as this falls under municipal jurisdiction. He then went on to praise township staff for their hard work, saying “we owe a lot to them in bringing the windmills to Huron-Kinloss.” Next, Kincardine’s Deputy Mayor Laura Haight took the stand. She made reference to how wind has helped shape the township in the past, as it brought settlers to the area by schooner and water to the wells. She also hoped the added income would help farmers earn extra income, wishing them the best. “To the farmers, I hope it all works for them,” she said. Not all felt the day was festive however, as signs saying, “Neighbours don’t support wind turbines” were posted not far from the ceremony site by landowners who do not want the large turbines next door to them. Some neighbouring non-host families feel they had little input as to whether turbines were located near their properties. Among other things, many fear that their property values may suffer and turbine locations may affect future building permits. There are those living near a wind farm in neighbouring ACW Township that complain of noise, shadow flicker and a poor view of the landscape. Some even say they have had health problems and that livestock and horses have acted strangely because of their close proximity to the turbines. They are not alone. Critics who have opposed projects of this nature in neighbouring lakeshore municipalities say that no greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced and that the coal and nuclear plants will still have to keep running. This is in order to be ready when the wind dies off, as it takes hours or even days, to fire the plants back up. They also oppose the lack of input the province allows from the host townships and that local township bylaws are superseded by provincial legislation. Things such set backs, or where and when the units are built are all out of the township’s hands and dictated by the province. They are also upset by artificially low MPAC assessments rates, seeing it as upper tier government forcing municipalities and ratepayers to subsidies large corporations. Differing views did not ruin the spirit of the day however. Security guards carefully checked those entering the site, to be sure protesters and those who vocally oppose industrial turbines in the area were kept out. Guards said that they were not only provided with a list of those invited, but of those who have been actively against the introduction of industrial turbines in the fields of Huron-Kinloss and elsewhere. No trouble was reported however. The guards said that the few who showed up uninvited, or on the list of those not allowed in, left peacefully when denied entry to the field. |
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