Rural Oxford community says no to wind turbines

A rural Oxford County township won’t back any new wind turbine projects on its turf until the province revises its policy and gives municipalities more information about their impacts.

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Zorra Township council has voted unanimously not to support a potential wind turbine project or any such future development in the community.

The motion said it was halting approval of wind turbine projects until the Energy Ministry and Independent Electricity System Operator, which co-ordinates Ontario’s power system, changes the procurement process to better inform municipalities about agricultural, health, environmental and other impacts.

“The province has these answers about these things (and) I can’t get that information. . . so I’m not going to make this decision when I can’t answer to it for residents,” said Zorra Mayor Marcus Ryan. “This process does not allow this council to be informed before it makes a decision, so we’re not going to make one.”

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A spokesperson for the Ontario energy minister’s office said there’s no prohibition on the type of information a municipality can request, and municipalities are “completely in control of the procurement process.”

In a statement to The Free Press, the minister’s office said the Ontario government “always supports the will of municipalities, and we won’t impose projects onto the community,” adding: “We are empowering municipalities by requiring energy project developers to secure support resolutions from local governments.”

Along with future projects, council’s decision puts the brakes on a proposal by Prowind Inc., a German renewable energy company.

Helmut Schneider, who is listed on Prowind’s website as a vice-president, told Zorra council on Sept. 4 the company was eyeing the municipality for 16 to 24 wind turbines over roughly 50 square kilometers. Turbine towers stand 123 to 144 meters high, with blades 65- to 70-meters long, he told politicians.

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The notion of wind turbines in Zorra didn’t sit well with some residents of the mostly rural municipality about 20 kilometers northeast of London.

Some residents put up signs opposing the project. The proposed wind turbines also generated many reactions online, including 140 comments responding to Sept. 8 and Sept. 10 posts about the project – many expressing opposition – on the What’s up Thamesford Facebook page.

Among concerns raised on the forum were the size of the wind turbines, the noise and shadows they create, migratory bird deaths and loss of farmland.

“They are a massive eyesore! They kill birds! Did I mention that they look terrible!” wrote Edward Patience.

“Defacing of our region,” wrote Kim Lightheart.

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Coun. Kevin Stewart said at the council meeting that because Zorra is mostly rural, the municipality should consider whether wind turbines were good use of “prime farmland.”

And he echoed Ryan’s call that the province “give some guidance,” because “there’s enough negative feedback on wind turbines in the community.”

Zorra is the second Oxford County council to withhold support for a Prowind wind turbine project this year. East-Zorra Tavistock declared itself an “unwilling host” in March.

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@BrianWatLFPress

The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada

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