Wynne’s vow on turbines rings hollow

“The Kathleen Wynne government is revamping the controversial approval process for large wind and solar projects to give municipalities a much greater voice.” That was then (the end of May). This is now. “You said in a recent article that it wasn’t clear yet if those recent changes announced by the minister of energy would solve the turbine problem. I can tell you first hand that, no, it won’t.”

That was Betty Konc, an alderman in Wainfleet, a Niagara area community that has had its share of problems with turbine developments. Konc goes on, “Their (the Wynne government’s) so-called ‘let’s talk about this and we want to work with communities’ was just a media bite, nothing else.

“I am part of the multi-municipal group of elected officials that sat down in early April to figure out the best way to help ‘fix’ the GEA (Green Energy Act) and its components. We came up with some great recommendations that would have calmed and soothed the rural communities, we believe, but, no, they are not having any of it.”

Currently there are two turbine projects proposed for the municipality Konc represents. Wainfleet Wind Energy proposes to build five turbines in two locations.

The second project, by Niagara Region Wind Energy, is made up of 77 turbines, 44 of which will be located in West Lincoln. Wainfleet will have five turbines, and the balance will be in Haldimand County.

“In April of 2012, Wainfleet council passed a bylaw that requires wind developers to adhere to a two-kilometre setback of wind turbines from property lines of neighbouring properties. This bylaw was challenged in court by Wainfleet Wind Energy and a decision is expected soon,” says the municipality’s website.

Wainfleet is just one of dozens of rural communities that don’t want wind turbines rammed down their throats by developers, assisted by the provincial government.

As many of them suspected, the deck continues to be stacked against rural Ontario.

Before giant turbine developments could be approved, there was always a requirement that developers hold discussions with communities.

But those discussions were one-way, with developers telling communities what they planned. Communities had no say.

That was the Dalton McGuinty version of public consultation as far as rural Ontario was concerned. (Totally different in Oakville and Mississauga, with more Liberal voters.)

Soon after Premier Wynne was elected by her party to lead the province, she promised a new day on wind turbines. Communities would even have veto power over wind developments, she said. Konc argues that’s not how things have worked out.

“They (the government again) are saying that those projects in the queue have to be approved because they have been awarded a FIT (feedin tariff) contract with OPA (Ontario Power Authority), but this is simply not true, they are twisting the truth as usual.

“Getting approved by OPA does not guarantee approval by the MOE (ministry of the environment), and the GEA does say policy could change.”

So what does all this talk without the walk by the provincial government mean for municipalities in their fight against giant turbines?

It’s clear it’s going to be the same old, same old, with rural Ontario left out in the cold.

And how do some municipal leaders feel about that? Here’s Betty Konc again:

“Are we pissed? You bet we are. This announcement does nothing and is too little too late.”