What's blowing in the wind

Published August 23rd, 2010
Darrell Cole

Developer feels vocal minority driving opposition

GULF SHORE - Residents here are gearing up for another fight to stop a wind farm from being developed in their community.

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,” Gulf Shore Preservation Association chair Lisa Betts said Monday. "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.”

Charles Demond of the Atlantic Wind Power Corporation spoke to residents during the association's annual general meeting on Sunday at the Pugwash legion. It's believed the corporation wants to erect 11 or 12 turbines in the Gulf Shore area that would have a height, including turbine and blade of 140-150 metres.

Demond said he was invited by Betts to speak at the meeting and feels a few people are driving the opposition.

"We intended to present our revised plans reducing the number of turbines from 19 down to 11 or 12," Demond said in a prepared statement. "Although each would be higher in megawatts and taller by about 25 metres, almost an entire row of turbines would be eliminated. Frankly we believed this would be a good news story. Instead, a handful of people stirred the room with their apparent belief that no wind turbines should exist anywhere within kilometres of their properties no matter.

"This vocal opposing view is arbitrary and assumes that the farmer and woodlot owners who want to host the wind farm have no rights at all. Because of the continued interest in this project among stakeholders and the honest merits of the site, we strongly believe that one day a wind farm will be on these lands. We are just not as confident that we will be the developer that is there at the end of the day to cut the ribbon."

The area being proposed for the turbines is very similar to where Demond's company planned to put 20-27 turbines several years ago.

http://www.amherstdaily.com/News/Local/2010-08-23/article-1692378/Whats-blowing-in-the-wind/1