Opposition mounts to wind turbine project planned for area

Brownsville Community Centre was packed for a community meeting about a proposed wind turbine project that will stretch across SouthWest Oxford into Malahide Township. (Debbie Kasman Photo)

Debbie Kasman, Tillsonburg Post Correspondent

There is growing opposition to a proposed wind turbine project, the Cedar Flats Wind Project, that could see up to 34 turbines in the area from Verschoyle south to almost Corinth and then west past Highway 73.

At a standing room only community meeting at the Brownsville Community Centre on May 7, the crowd heard concerns from several different speakers about what could be the largest turbines in Canada. The Gunn’s Hill project near Woodstock has turbines reaching 156 m or 512 ft. The proposed turbines here could reach 200 m or 656 ft. tall.

Guest speaker Warren Howard of VP Wind Concerns, a province-wide advocacy organization whose mission is to provide information on the potential impact of industrial-scale wind power generation, told the crowd of approximately 200 that his group is worried about shadow flickers, ice throws from moving blades, fires potentially igniting dry crops, contracts that are one-sided or that cannot be broken once signed, and farmers who can’t sell their land without permission from the developer once under contract.

Guest speaker Joan Morris, whose farm is located within the wind turbine area near Woodstock, spoke of her family’s experience living amongst the wind turbines there. Morris has concerns about access roads and infrastructure, economic tension, potential effect on livestock, high-pressure sales tactics, an inconsistent energy supply, the loss of agricultural land, and wind turbines are not carbon neutral.

Morris also shared concerns expressed by MPP Todd Smith on July 23, 2018 stating that the company was charged three times by the province’s Ministry of Environment for multiple violations. The hotly-contested White Pines project in Prince Edward County went from 29 turbines to 27, then nine and was ultimately cancelled by the Ontario government in 2018.

At a smaller meeting at the Brownsville Community Centre on April 30, representatives from wpd spoke to the approximately 80 people in attendance saying the turbine size for the Cedar Flats Project has not been selected yet, turbine size has increased in recent years because larger turbines bring greater efficiency at lower costs, and this means fewer turbines are needed. The proposed turbines for this area would be quieter than those located near Woodstock.

If the project is approved, construction would last 18 months. The company would use local services and contractors when possible. Representatives said the project would create approximately 200 to 300 jobs and five to 10 permanent positions would be needed for operations and maintenance.

The company would also offer a Community Benefit Fund where the hydro bills of the community could be subsidized or an environmental conservation or restoration project could be undertaken. The local municipality could also receive approximately $440,000 per year as a municipal benefit, amounting to about $9 million over 20 years.

Community members expressed concern about Catfish Creek protection and the sensitive species there as well as high water table stability and potential impact on the community well in Brownsville, similar to what is happening in the Chatham-Kent area where wind towers were constructed over the extremely fragile aquifer of the Kettle Point shale.

wpd is beginning an environmental assessment report to identify and evaluate any potential environmental impacts of the proposed project.

The project requires municipal approval before it is considered by the province’s Independent Electricity System Operator. Then, zone changes and site plan approval would be needed. More information will be presented to Councils in the third quarter of this year.

For more information, contact wpd Canada at cedarflatswind@wpd-canada.ca or the SouthWest Oxford and Malahide Say No to Wind Turbines Facebook group.