GSPA Overwhelmingly Rejects Wind Energy Development within the Community
Pugwash, Nova Scotia – August 23, 2010
At its Annual General Meeting held Sunday, August 22, the Gulf Shore Preservation Association (GSPA) listened to a presentation for a revised wind turbine development proposed by Cobequid Area Wind farms (CAWF) for the Gulf Shore, Nova Scotia, near Pugwash.
Following the presentation by CAWF, the GSPA overwhelmingly rejected developing a wind turbine project within the Gulf Shore community. “We had a tremendous turnout for this presentation. It is unequivocally clear that residents feel that this project is inconsistent with the responsible development of the area, and that any such development on the Gulf Shore would be a serious setback to the community”, said Lisa Betts, Chair of the GSPA. “The resolve of this community to fight this threat is absolute. We want the Nova Scotia Government, Nova Scotia Power, and prospective wind developers to know that this kind of project is in conflict with established critical economic drivers and is unsuitable for our vibrant community,” continued Betts.
The GSPA issued the following mission statement and position on wind energy development.
Mission Statement
Preserve a vibrant and growing community by promoting responsible development of the Gulf Shore area ensuring that prospective projects are consistent with maintaining the long-term sustainability, viability and quality of life of the community.
Position on Commercial Wind Energy Development
The GSPA’s position is that commercial wind energy projects are inconsistent with the responsible development of the area, and that any such development on the Gulf Shore would be a serious setback to the community.
Opposition to any such development is based on the following:
Asymmetrical Benefit
Commercial wind energy projects do not promote sustainable growth when inserted directly into an existing community. Such projects are win-lose. They are economically beneficial to outside stakeholders at the expense of those within the community.
Conflicting Industries
The commercial wind energy industry conflicts with our current destination tourism, recreational and retirement communities. These critical economic drivers are essential to Pugwash, Wallace and surrounding areas.
Margin of Safety Should be Larger, Not Smaller
Given the uncertainty of the environmental, health, and economic impacts, it is irresponsible to site commercial wind energy development projects within existing communities.
Negative Community Growth
Uncertainty stifles growth. The commercial wind energy industry maintains that these projects are benign but prospective community members will choose the certainty of no wind turbines over the uncertainty of living with them. Over fifty years of building the community will be undone with this continued threat.
Future Community Growth Stopped
Commercial wind energy projects and the related infrastructure consume prime land areas otherwise available for residential and recreational expansion.
Specifically addressing the immediate proposal
It is becoming increasingly clear that commercial wind power is about the economics, not the environment. This is about an intrusive project that takes much, and leaves little. We live in a democracy, and it is our intent and responsibility to use whatever reasonable means necessary to end this threat to our community.
In a final comment Betts said “Wind energy development in the Province of Nova Scotia needs thoughtful regulation with respect to proper siting so that win – lose situations, where rural communities are the losers, can be avoided”.
4 comments:
More backwards thinking. Everyone wants cleaner electricity but done elsewhere. The Europeans are light years ahead of the rest of the world for sustainable RE development. Too bad about Pugwash though. More heads in the sand.
Pugwash wants sustainable development for its retirement industry... give me a break. who is expected to keep all of these seniors alive. Lisa's boogers are frozen.
A year or more ago, wind opponents in Pugwash bristled at being termed NIMBYs. Now they say no, no matter what , no!
This is NIMBY thinking. It has already been seen. When the bylaw was being crafted, setback was lengthened to meet opponents demands. Not good enough they said we now want more. A set of demands was presented to Council that was actually a carefully written ban on wind power in Cumberland.
John McManus
Mr. McManus; I've never met you but you seem to be a reasonable well heeled individual. Obiviously you well versed on the local issues. It's too bad that a few people in selected areas of the province are able to hi-jack a process or for that matter hi-jack our collective responsibility for reduceing GHG. This province is the 2nd worst polluter in Canada. Does this just go left unattended? People in the Pugwash area need to give their collective heads a shake.
I can understand that more economic stimulus needs to flow back to the community. I wish these corporate wind developers would address more local community economic development issues as part of their submissions for approvals of these wind farms. It might go a long way in winning over public opinion.
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