Enniskillen will wait to impose a two km zone for wind turbines
Heather Wright Photo
Enniskillen Township politicians say they’re considering a bylaw to keep wind turbines two kilometers from homes.
But Mayor Kevin Marriott says council is waiting to see what happens with two prominent cases in the Ontario courts before acting.
There are three wind energy companies going door-to-door in the municipality trying to sign farmers to wind leases. The projects could mean up to 51 turbines in the community.
A new group, CORE – Conservation of Rural Enniskillen – has been formed to encourage residents not to sign on, making it difficult for the wind companies to get the land base they need. So far, the companies have not secured contracts with the provincial government to sell power.
That’s why Marriott and his council told members of CORE at a recent council meeting they’re taking their time on imposing a two kilometer limit – which would be directly opposed to provincial law.
Marriott says communities such as Wainfleet and Plympton-Wyoming which imposed the limit are facing legal challenges and are currently in court. A decision on the Wainfleet two kilometer set back is expected in weeks.
“When we hear that decision we thought we’d be in a better position to proceed with setback (requirements) like Plympton-Wyoming’s,” says Marriott adding a larger exclusion zone would be one of the best ways to stop wind projects in the community. “Two kilometers would pretty well eliminate any place in rural Lambton,” says Marriott.
Other councilors say it would be foolish to move ahead without seeing the decision. “If they can’t get the two kilometer set back, we won’t either,” says Councilor Mary Lynn McCallum.
But some residents are urging council not to wait. Tom Saul, one of the members of CORE, wants council to work with the group to educate landowners about wind leases. “You have a certain amount of credibility and respectfully, I think council has been hiding….Please, please be more visible and active and help us with the education process,” says Saul.
But councilors say it is not that simple. “We’re getting pressure from both sides,” says Councilor John Phair. “If we get involved with organizational meetings, I wonder, could we be looking at legal action?”
“We know there are ratepayers who are not opposed to wind turbines,” says Greydanus. “We are quietly trying to assess what is going on…it is only in the last while we’re hearing a common voice.”
The mayor suggested CORE organize another public meeting to continue the education process, knowing that council is acting. “As long as we’re on your side I don’t know how we can be perceived as anything but support,” says Marriott.
Saul was disappointed council wouldn’t become an active organizer. “If you truly believe these things are not a good thing, help educate people and they are still free to choose,” he says.
– Heather Wright
John Phair could be looking at legal action if the council does NOT act in the best interests of the residents – has this council declared that it is not a Willing host for Wind turbines yet? if not ,why not?
Greydanus says there are rate payers who are not opposed to wind turbines so I take from that he is one of them . Anyone who has exercised any
due diligence on this subject is opposed – stick to scientific and technological facts not naive ideology.
Tom, I’m a proud Wainfleet resident and my Council rocks!!! In spite of being ‘told’ by their staff that they couldn’t do this they agreed unanimously to do it anyway! We are waiting to hear the result of the court hearing and still don’t know what it will be. You might like to find out what advice your elected Council are getting from their unelected staff….???
Your Mayor is wrong when he says that a 2km Set Back Bylaw is ‘illegal’. It has not so far been tested in court. Even more worrying it is a claim only made so far by wind energy companies, their lawyers and parties interested in promoting industrial wind projects. I think I would be inclined to ask Mayor Marriott on what grounds he can make such a statement….???
I think the vital part of these recent lawsuits, only one heard so far, with another two in process, is whether or not a court rules that an elected Council
has the right to enact a Bylaw that they believe protects the best interests of their community. Under the Municipal Act there are some who claim that not only does an elected Council have that right, but by their oath of office they are legally obliged to do so.
It seems some on your Council are playing the wind energy company games and using the legality or otherwise of a 2km Set Back Bylaw as a red herring!
Keep up the fight and get all the residents you can to demand to know why their Mayor and Council refuse to protect their interests. The residents elected them and they should have absolutely no loyalty to foreign companies only interested in exploiting Inneskillen.
There can be no Mayor or Councilor in rural Ontario any more, who isn’t well aware of the harm such wind energy projects will inflict on their own community. Don’t back off and don’t allow your elected representatives to delay!
Best of luck,
Andrew Watts