Dave MacGrath
Original (unedited) submission to Chronicle Herald
Published in Opinions 24th February 2012
For fifty years Pugwash, Nova Scotia has been known around the world for its dedication in making the world a more peaceful place. There is now a very large problem within the community that certainly needs the help of our government officials. Perhaps the most important of these would be the Department of Environment and the Department of Tourism.
The Gulf Shore area of Pugwash is one of the fastest growing areas in Cumberland County. The majority of the residents who moved here from away did so because they wanted to live in a peaceful place. Pugwash and the Gulf Shore Road area has residents from all around the world who find it a great place to live, with clean air, very little crime, wonderful ocean activities and friendly people who work together for the common good of this community. A few years ago the residents thought it would be a good idea to build a curling rink. They held some meetings, everyone joined in and the rink was built using volunteers without one hitch or argument and it is now the winter focal point for the community. It just shows what can be done with a joint effort. We are a successful area but the depth of our success is not deep and the future of this area and village is "at risk".
Unfortunately, "The Atlantic Wind Power Corporation" has leased land from several residents in the area and plan to erect windmills on that leased land which is in the middle of this pristine area. The people who came here from away and spent there life savings on their retirement homes on the Gulf Shore will be right in the middle of this if it goes ahead. According to the most recent census the Gulf Shore area is one of the few rural places in Nova Scotia which is growing in numbers, it is helping to keep Pugwash a viable village.
A study in Ontario which was shown on CBC stated property values in a windmill area will depreciate from 20% to 40 % . These wind mills have a life expectancy of nineteen years and it is the land owner’s responsibility to put the land back to its original condition which will cost an estimated forty thousand dollars per windmill. In the mining industry a reclamation bond must be posted by the land owner if the status of the land is changed. Is it really worth all the aggravation and dissension to lease to The Atlantic Wind Power Corporation?
Pugwash is a beautiful place and I love living here. The landscape, beaches and serene skyline is what invites people to come live here, I would hate to see our tourism, and the people who have moved into the area, suffer. We are on a slippery slope. Nobody is against wind power, what they are against is ruining a beautiful residential area with windmills that are 350 feet high. By the way, what is wrong with the Cobequid Pass area? Lots of wind there and nobody would suffer if they covered the mountain with them.
My question to these windmill proponents; my politicians, federally, provincially and municipally, is simple:
"Would you after reading the CBC article, gladly accept a windmill for which you have no financial reimbursement, within 600 meters of your home? " A simple "Yes" or "No"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/09/30/ontario-wind-power-property-values.html
Dave McGrath
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/66966-pugwash-not-so-peaceful-village
2 comments:
Nice Ezra Levant type question Dave. Here's one for you . Are any turbines propoded within 600 meters of any home. You don't have to call any Gulf Shore associates: THE ANSWER IS NO. It's no surprise that Ezra isn't building a House of Commons pension.
You admit that the Gulf Shore has grown since the wind farm was proposed. That's right, this fact makes your assertion that property values will depreciate seem pretty silly. This is what people call scoring one on your own goal.
John McManus
Since there will be no homes within 600 meters it is a trick question. Would I live 601 meters outside of a wind farm, YES!
The CBC article that you post is not your golden egg. The projects in question are examples of fast tracked projects that were put in before some of the more realistic bylaws were passed around wind farm developments in those areas. The wind farms are known to be within 500 meters of homes and sometimes as close a few hundred meters. There is no question about this distance now. They were also built in areas sensitive to migratory bird paths. The distance item is addressed in Pugwash and also the bird issues. It is simply aesthetics and whether or not retirees will seek another shore than yours.
I really feel for you and your cause and how you are trying to grab at so many straws so hard. One thing I can tell you right now is that your cause is lost. You are lost and I will personally make sure that myself and everyone I know never graces your community ever again. That probably gives you a little schadenfreaude, however it shouldn't, because we are many and you need us.
Good luck and good riddance!
RL
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