Holding our Breath

Well, the proponents heard yesterday which of the 19 proposals are winners. The public will officially be informed in couple of weeks, but we are expecting some flapping gums before that. Meanwhile, we hold our breath waiting for any news.

We know that in Pugwash there has been some last minute wheeling and dealing. There have been attempts to purchase land in the middle of the project that was bought four years ago with the explicit purpose of avoiding having turbines on it. An offer of $1000/acre for half cut off land sound a little desperate.

A sad little property at the end of the Miller Road has been purchased by the proponent - to what end we're not quite sure. What he says its for and its actual purpose would be are likely very different.

We know that their field workers were attempting to home in on final turbine locations at the very last minute. This is a mandatory step for the RFP. Despite the fact this has been a very dry year, wetlands that are to be avoided are still clearly identifiable.

A real big stumbling block was the anemometer - or lack thereof. RFP scoring improves with multiple wind monitoring towers. This project had one, short tower, a little outside of the project footprint. Not a good score. The only wind data used in the EA came from Truro!!

The Environmental Assessment (EA) had been submitted, which would score well. This is not fair and has to be addressed for next time. Having an poorly executed, incomplete EA scores just as well as a good one and better than a really good one that has not been submitted yet. Not fair.

Menawhile ..... Health Canada has announced it will conduct a study on health effects of wind turbines. It is a little concerning that the sites have already been chosen, but we have to trust that the Feds will conduct everying fairly and with transparency. Hmmm ....

.... so you would think that, if the Feds finally realize that there is enough smoke to investigate the fire, that any projects planned anywhere near any populated areas would be put on hold. To carry on building while that very type of site is being investigated for its potential to make people sick would be reckless. But I supposed there are people who would rather risk the ire of the locals, Feds and everyone inbetween, and go "ooops, my bad" than not grasp at any opportunity to make a dollar off the backs of local residents and local property owners.