Whites Point quarry rejected

Press release from Dept of Envmt and Labour:

Environment and Labour Minister Mark Parent is rejecting the proposed Whites Point quarry in Digby County.

An independent panel report says the quarry project poses unacceptable risk to the environment and the community.

Mr. Parent says he agrees with the conclusion. Other recommendations will be reviewed and shared with appropriate departments.

The Environment Act allows the minister to reject such proposals.

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The people spoke to the federal and provincial panel, who recommended the project be rejected, and it was.

Nice to see that common sense has prevailed. Let's hope that it is a growing trend.

http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20071120003

Country Guardian

Country Guardian http://www.countryguardian.net/ is "is a UK conservation group which, since 1991, has campaigned against the construction of wind turbines in environmentally sensitive areas. We object because wind turbines convert rural landscape into industrial landscape, and because they are a poor source of renewable energy."

That being said, there is some good information to be had on their web site, particularly their 54 page "The case against windfarms" file by independent consultant, Dr John Etherington. It is a good all round "starter kit" on basic information to do with wind energy. The references are primarily British, but the principals remain the same, wherever you are.

The direct .pdf address link does not seem to work. Go to http://www.countryguardian.net/Case%20document.htm
and click on "click to download the ADOBE version...."

You can get there from the home page too.

France moves turbines back

Sarkozy announces new wind turbine policy

Industrial wind turbine development to end in rural and wild areas.

The Sustainable Environment Federation (FED), with the heritage and countryside associations who demonstrated in Paris on October 6 against industrial wind energy, are pleased by President Sarkozy’s redirection of French policy concerning wind turbines and renewable energy.

In his comments at the closure of the « Grenelle de l’environnement », the president of the republic announced the end of the « rush » that has characterized French policy on wind turbines up to now and that ultimately means degradation of the environment. New wind turbines will be installed first in brownfields and far from emblematic locales.

In an improvisation that was not in the prepared text provided to the press, M. Sarkozy turned to José-Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, and added : « Frankly, when I see some European countries, it doesn’t make me envious ».

The president of the republic also announced acceleration of research into energies of the future.

This new policy marks the end of industrial wind turbine installations in rural and wild areas. This is a relief for the 800 villages and 52 departments represented in the October 6 demonstration. It is also a powerful contribution to the image of France and shows Europe that an energy policy can reconcile the fight against global warming and respect for the countryside and every life.

*******

The 1500 demonstrators on October 6 brought six demands. Many of them have been accepted : publicize the true numbers of wind energy development (M. Borloo [environment minister] has committed to this), protect public health from wind turbine nuisance, protect the cultural and natural heritage of France, restore peace in the villages, commit to an effective energy strategy.

The sixth concerns the financial scandal of the price of wind-generated electricity. The highly elevated price encourages the production of intermittent energy which does not promote the reduction of greenhouse gases. It will lead to speculative pressure for the few areas in France that meet the criteria of the new policy.

Just as the president announced that the policy of supporting biofuels will be reviewed, price support for wind turbines needs to be reviewed.

http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/11/06/sarkozy-announces-new-wind-turbine-policy/

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"Brownfields" are areas zoned specifically for industrial farming use only. No wind turbines in residential areas or forests.

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If your French is up to it, here's the link to Sarkozy's entire speech:

http://environnementdurable.net/documents/html/grenelle-sarkozy.htm

Another site

While away the hours waiting for news from NSPI at this interesting site.

http://windfarms.wordpress.com/

I will work at permanently posting links to other interesting sites here.

no news from NSPI

The latest "information" on the NSPI site http://oasis.nspower.ca/documents/GIP_Queue_003.pdf is exactly the same as last week's.

Higgins Mountain

Just got home from a meeting at the Wentworth Fire Hall where there was a presentation, to about 40 people, about the Higgins Mountain project. The presentation was the same as what was recently given to the Folly Lake Residents Association (or similar named group) by one of the long time seasonal residents. He made a very good job of presenting the project, process, pros and cons in as balanced a manner as one could expect.

It would seem the folk of Wentworth/Westchester/Folly Lake are not of such fulsome praise of this project as we have been led to believe.

Again, the cry is all for wind power, but the one of the main concerns is of "siting". The turbines for this project are not neatly tucked away out of sight as we have been told, but march along the top of the ridge and sometimes quite close to Highway 4.

Modeling of shadow flicker for Ski Wentworth present a (potentially dangerous) degree of flicker.

The local people asked many intelligent questions. There was a rep from CBCL who answered many questions. MLAs Murray Scott and Karen Casey were there, as was Councilor Kathy Redmond, a councilor from Colchester County, reps from CREDA and other local Associations (for once I didn't have my note book with me - sorry). No media.

I came home to an e-mail claiming we should hear from NSPI tomorrow.