‘It’s not going to be a beautiful place anymore’
Avalon Chapter of Council of Canadians presents its concerns over proposed southwest coast wind energy project
The Avalon Chapter of the Council of Canadians is not against wind power, but it says World Energy GH2'S project isn't the right first step.
“We see wind power as a possible viable resource,” said Yvonne Earle, the chapter’s contact person and secretary.
The chapter says it must be done in scalable projects that will benefit the province’s communities, and that’s where some of its concerns about the proposed Project Nujio'qonik for the Port au Port Peninsula stem from.
“This is not giving anybody in Newfoundland and Labrador any kind of wind power for communities to use. It’s all for the export of ammonia,” said Earle.
POLLUTION, EROSION
The St. John’s woman has been involved with the Avalon Chapter of the Council of Canadians for eight years.
As part of the ongoing environmental assessment process for the project, the chapter recently submitted a six-page letter to the provincial government highlighting dozens of concerns about the problems the project represents for the environment and the people of the Port au Port Peninsula, Stephenville and Codroy Valley areas.
Among its concerns are air and water pollution, erosion, threats to wildlife and rare plants, health and safety, and the negative effects on tourism, fishing and other economic and cultural mainstays of the area.
“If allowed to go ahead, Project Nujio'qonik will be a disaster on every count – for people, for the planet, and for our democracy,” the chapter states in its letter.
'GIVING AWAY OUR CROWN LAND'
“This is a huge project and it’s the first of several that we understand are being proposed for hydrogen projects and it’s of super concern because the province seems to be giving away our Crown land to these corporations who don’t have a wonderful track record for being kind to the environment," said Earle.
"And then the things that are being proposed are not necessarily going to be of benefit to the province."
There are concerns, she added, that communities will be left dealing with the outcomes of the project, as has happened in other places where projects like this one have failed or come to the end of their life.
Earle said the project could ruin the landscape of a large area of Newfoundland.
WILDLIFE IMPACT
There are plans to expand the project into the Codroy Valley, where the Grand Codroy Estuary, a wetland of international importance, is located and is known as a flyway corridor for many species of birds.
Earle said there is no way to know what decimation will take place or what will be lost from there if the project proceeds.
The chapter is also concerned about the effect the project will have on outfitters who make a living in the area.
She said the project brings with it a promise of jobs, but there is no idea of how many or how long they will last.
LACK OF CONSULTATION
“The other aspect of things is they are saying there are consultations, but it’s not been consultations. It’s been talked to and a few questions maybe taken from the public, and things kind of glossed over,” she said.
“People deserve to have real input on that, and the government needs to have all of the information before they give their approval."
Communities need to be involved and have their say, not just councils, she added.
“There needs to be democratic processes here.”
MUSKRAT FALLS COMPARISON
Earle said there was a review of all the things that should have been done or done better with Muskrat Falls that could be applied in this case, but that’s not happening.
“It’s like we threw those recommendations out the door when we turned around and went with World Energy GH2,” she said.
As for the memorandums of agreement the federal government has signed with Germany and the $128-million loan the federal government has provided to World Energy GH2, Earle said it’s kind of putting the cart before the horse.
“Shouldn’t we actually look at what we’re doing to the province and what the payoff is? You can’t base your whole economy on industrial development. The land and the livelihoods that are made from that count for something and they can go on in perpetuity. This wind farm can’t,” she said.
TOO RUSHED
Rob Luke of St. John’s, chairperson of the Avalon Chapter of the Council of Canadians, echoed many of Earle’s comments, including concerns about the environment, and worries that the project has been rushed.
He said it was dropped on people without a lot of notice or discussion. There's work happening to advance the project, he pointed out, but it has not yet received approval to proceed through the environmental assessment process.
Luke and other chapter members from across the province have asked questions about the project and voiced their concerns, but have received no response.
“What disturbed us was the lack of democracy and transparency with both the company and the government,” he said.
ENVIRONMENT
Luke is also fearful of what the project will do to the environment.
“Environmentally, this hasn’t been proved,” he said.
“Basically, they’re going to clear cut in order to put the windmills up. These things are huge in size.
“It’s not going to be a beautiful place anymore. Once they start digging and making roadways, other people are going to be able to go in areas of the province that were left alone.”
Luke said he is also concerned about what might happen if there is a hydrogen spill into the water.