Digby wind project slowed

Environmental approval requires more information

By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau, Chronicle Herald

PLANS TO BUILD a wind turbine park for Digby Neck hit a snag this month when Nova Scotia’s deputy minister of environment told an executive at Skypower Corp. in a letter that more information about the project is needed before an environmental assessment application is approved.

Skypower Corp. of Toronto and Scotian Windfields of Dartmouth have jointly proposed a 30-megawatt wind farm on Digby Neck comprised of 20 wind turbines, each generating 1.5 megawatts of electricity.

The proponents have said they hoped to begin construction by September, pending permits and approvals.

On June 19, deputy minister Nancy Vanstone released the decision on behalf of the environment minister. In it, she said local residents expressed concern over the potential noise from the wind farm.

"The registration document failed to provide sufficient detailed information about the proximity of nearby residents to the turbines," she said.

She asked for more details, including the number of homes, daycares, hospitals or seniors residences located within intervals of 600 metres, one kilometre, 1.5 kilometres, and two kilometres of the proposed turbines.

New information must be submitted within a year as an addendum to the original environmental assessment application, said Ms. Vanstone.

The minister would then have 50 days to make a decision, she said.

"The actual (environmental assessment application) wasn’t denied. The minister has just requested more information," said Tanya Bragg of Skypower.

She said the company plans to meet soon with environment department officials to find out what else they might require.

"We’re going to provide that to them," she said Thursday from Toronto. "We’re hoping it will not take a year."

Municipality of Digby Warden Jim Thurber said Thursday that he doesn’t know much about the request for additional information.

"I haven’t even seen (the) letter. We didn’t receive a copy of anything," Mr. Thurber said.

"In speaking with Skypower not too long ago, they had more or less told me that they were going to try and switch some of the turbines around to have all of them more than 600 metres from the closest home."

"It’s a project that...I support and I hope is able to go forward," he said.

A group of concerned residents held a public meeting last month, where it was said 20 homes were located within 700 metres of a proposed turbine, and 70 homes were found within 1.2 kilometres of a proposed turbine.

Evelyn Hayden lives in Rossway, on Digby Neck, and said she’s glad more work has to be done.

"I’m very, very pleased," she said Thursday.

Ms. Hayden said she lives 600 to 650 metres from one of the proposed wind turbines, according to information she’s seen.

"I’m glad they really took it to heart and looked at it very deeply and thoroughly," she said about the environment department.

"All we’re asking for . . . is to get these things set back away from the homes. I mean, why won’t they do it?

"At least one and a half kilometres from any building that is occupied by humans — that’s all we ask."

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Search/1129222.html

Minister's decision can be found at:

http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/ea/digby.wind.sky.power.asp

While we hold our breath waiting for July 7th .....

.... when the RFP for small renewables are due for submission to NSPI, following are a few pieces from other places around the world. The people of the Gulf Shore are not the only ones with concerns and questions.

This is an editorial from today's East Orgegonian.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Slow down the rush of siting wind turbines in our Blue Mountains

Successive generations of children growing up in Eastern Oregon may never know we were once surrounded by an expansive and majestic landscape devoid of wind turbines. Already the foothills that display a beauty all their own are becoming something of an anomaly.

Wind turbines - and the necessity of high-voltage power lines to access the energy they produce - are the most recent threat to our Blue Mountains.

The initial step in the wind turbine issue begins Thursday, when the Umatilla County Planning Commission holds the first of several meetings to consider a local proposal to protect a chunk of our county as a viewshed (a subsequent meeting is set for July 23).

The commission's charge will be to decide whether the area is a "significant resource" to protect.

Of that, there is no doubt. That means the next steps - including an analysis of economic, environmental, energy and social impacts - will determine the future of wind turbines in northeastern Umatilla County. We ask for a slow, thoughtful process that provides a reasonable set of guidelines. Those guidelines must consider a balanced approach.

While we strongly support the environmental benefits of wind energy, we also must remember that wind is an emerging technology. There are many unanswered questions about it.

The wind isn't a consistent source of energy, for example, something highly important to energy resource managers. The wind also blows primarily at night, when energy usage is at its lowest. So, storage of electricity becomes a major issue.

Other concerns include the effect on wildlife - for example, sediment runoff from the roads necessary for the operation of the wind turbines could negatively effect salmon runs. There's also the potential harm to birds and the possible negative impact of noise on elk herds. One thing is for sure: There needs to be much more independent research on wind energy.

The rush to obtain wind turbine easements and leases by a number of new companies - including some foreign-based firms - is also a concern. Just ask some of the landowners in oil- and gas-rich states how they or their relatives were duped by wildcat well exploration drillers. There is also the troubling issue about what happens if the turbines become obsolete or are abandoned. There are many areas of this country where the extraction of coal and other natural resources have left the land scarred and almost worthless. Rusting oilfield equipment is also commonplace in the Southwest U.S.

We know contracts for wind turbine leases have provided an economic boon for some in this region at a time when it was desperately needed. Lands that offered a marginal subsistence are, at least for now, somewhat economically viable. That's important for the health of the region.

To that end, we urge a strong measure of caution as we seek to balance the short- and long-term benefits to our economy from this new source of revenue with the overarching need to preserve our viewscape now and for future generations.

Thousands of wind turbines are already marching across vast areas of Eastern Oregon - many are almost obscured from sight. Does it not make sense to continue developing out-of-sight wind farms without completely submitting our entire panorama to a parade of towering steel sentinels? After all, these are not small structures. These are massive structures - up to 400-500 feet in height. By comparison, the KOIN Center in Portland is 509 feet tall.

We wonder, in retrospect, if Celilo Falls would vanish if the decision on hydro power was being made today. Are there areas so important for their beauty they merit preservation? Could we have harnessed the potential of the Columbia River without sacrificing a natural wonder? Today, there's not an inch of Eastern Oregon where the Columbia still flows freely.

Certainly, Eastern Oregon is a resource-based economy. Our land, our timber and our water have long contributed to our well-being. We attempt to carefully use what we have to sustain our economy. It's a delicate balance between the present economy and choices that could obliterate the landscape.

We simply ask for a dose of good sense in siting decisions. While we can't totally harness the wind, we can demand a slow and thoughtful process for the placement of wind turbines in our region.

To achieve that, the county - as well as the state - should not approve random sitings without a master plan. That will require time and cooperation. The first step begins Thursday.

Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board, comprised of Associate Publisher Kathryn Brown, General Manager Wendy DalPez, Managing Editor Skip Nichols, News Editor Daniel Wattenburger and Senior Reporter Dean Brickey. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian.

http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?SectionID=14&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=94268

Pugwash Wind Farm Dead

Last week at the candidate forum organised by the Pugwash Chamber of Commerce, Warden Keith Hunter stated that because of local opposition to a proposed wind "farm" on the Gulf Shore, it did not go ahead. He said he helped intervene on our behalf in a conversation with (then) Minister of Environment, Mark Parent.

This is in line with what representatives from Atlantic Wind Power Corp and Cobequid Area Wind Farms have stated publicly several times: that if this project was not welcome by the community, it would not go ahead.

All four candidates agreed that turbines should not intrude on the neighbouring property owners. People should be able to enjoy their properties.

They all agreed that wind energy, along with other forms of renewable energy, is part of what we should be doing as a Province to reduce greenhouse gases but, for a variety of reasons, they should not be placed too close to homes.

Candidates agree on wind turbine setbacks and public consultation

Candidates stage second debate

DARRELL COLE
The Amherst Daily News

PUGWASH – Residents should be consulted and their concerns answered when it comes to placing large wind farms near homes and cottages.

That was the consensus among four of the candidates seeking to be the next Cumberland North MLA during the second of two forums at St. Thomas Moore Roman Catholic Church Hall last night.

“I like windmills and we need to use more alternative energy, but we need to look at the placing of these things close to homes so they don’t interfere with people’s lives, property values and scenery,” Liberal candidate Brent Noiles said when asked his stance on promoting renewable energy and the impact of such projects on the community.

Pugwash and the Gulf Shore area were at the centre of a public controversy involving the plan by Atlantic Wind Farms to erect wind turbines near the Gulf Shore Road.

Progressive Conservative Keith Hunter, the warden of the county when it passed bylaws that would’ve allowed the turbines, said the residents of the area had a lot to do with the wind farm not going forward.

“The people fought against it and there are no windmills on the Gulf Shore,” Hunter said.

Brian Skabar, representing the NDP, said people have a right to be heard when it comes to the placement of wind turbines and said such projects must require close public consultation.

“People have a right to enjoy their property without the intrusion or the noise,” said Skabar, adding that renewable energy should play an important role in the province’s future.

Independent Ernest Fage said government regulation and public consultation will be key to preventing what residents went through in Gulf Shore.

“We need to have government regulation just like we do for other resources like the fishery and forestry,” he said.

Skabar said he’s not prepared to promise regulation until more is learned about the industry.

Responding to a question from Northport resident Joe O’Byrne on the Northport Bridge, Fage said he has been in touch with officials from the Department of Transportation and the bridge will be replaced in 2010, with design work this construction season.

“That’s the best I can tell you,” Fage said. “I have been ensured it is safe with the jersey barriers.”

Hunter said he wishes it could be replaced quicker and worries about its structural integrity, while Skabar wants the government process to be more transparent.

“If the rating goes from zero to nine and this one’s a four, I’d like to know what’s a one. What criteria is used and how is the decision made?” Skabar said.

The candidates were questioned about the beef industry and what they’d do for farmers.

Fage said red meat producers need support with a cash infusion and marketing support.

“We have to do it and it’s right to do it,” said Fage.

Hunter said he tried to support local producers when he ran his store, but found interprovincial barriers and a lack of inspectors difficult.

“You can say buy locally, but you can’t force people to do it. You need to educate people,” Hunter said, adding he’d like to see local inspection stations so small business owners can purchase and sell local products.

Skabar agreed that telling stores what they can sell goes against the spirit of free enterprise, but suggested real consultation with all stakeholders and the development of a long-term plan.

Hunter said that while large stores will be hard to convince, there are plenty of smaller stores that do purchase local.

Noiles said it’s important to keep talking on this issue.

“We have to keep talking about these things and as citizens we have a responsibility to talk about it and ask questions,” Noiles said.

Linden farmer Frank Foster said farmers are tired of having the symptoms talked about without anyone talking about a cure.

Noiles said the solution is a new government, pointing out the Conservatives have fumbled the ball while Hunter said he’s not sure if anyone knows how to save the industry.

“The best way to save it is to do what you’re doing and that’s promoting by local. You’re selling the product out there instead of going through the major chains who can’t handle it,” Hunter said.

Fage said the toughest thing with posing solutions is getting everyone pulling in the same direction including the farmers, government and retailers.

On the subject of tourism, all four candidates suggested talking full advantage of what the community has, pointing out the Pugwash Peace Exchange appears to be better known outside Nova Scotia than inside.

Green Party candidate Aviva Silburt did not attend last night’s debate.

http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=257438&sc=58