There are 155 Ontario municipalities that have said they are unwilling to host wind turbine projects, now or in the future. At last night’s Chatham-Kent council meeting, council decided not to become number 156.
Councillor Rhonda Jubenville brought in a motion to have Chatham-Kent refuse to give their support for the establishment of any new wind turbine projects within the municipality. The motion failed 11-3.
More wind turbine projects in the province are very likely. Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has plans to add roughly 5,000 MW of wind, hydro, solar, and biomass energy by 2030. There are currently 5,500 MW of wind turbines built in Ontario today.
Councillors decided not to support the motion, with many noting that requests for proposals have not been issued by the province yet for new power projects. There were also concerns that the motion was a one-size-fits-all for the entire municipality and would close the door to any future wind projects that might be a good fit for Chatham-Kent.
Bruce McAllister, Chatham-Kent’s general manager of community development, told council that any future energy project, whether it’s wind or solar, will require council’s endorsement with a municipal support resolution prior to proposal submission.
“Council still has the control and can deal with projects on a site-specific basis as they come forward at that point in time,” McAllister said.
McAllister said it would be more beneficial for council to go on a case-by-case basis with a municipal support resolution. He said if the motion had passed, it would signal to wind proponents that they are not open to any projects.
Jubenville said future wind turbine projects will harm the environment, compromise drinking water from wells, harm wildlife and endangered species, and health risks due to noise and vibrations.
Holding a jar of brown water from her well, Christine Burke made a deputation asking council to support the motion
Burke said there has been irreparable damage done to aquifers in the former Dover and Chatham Townships due to wind turbines.
“We should be protecting (the aquifer) at this point,” Burke said, in support of the motion to have Chatham-Kent become an unwilling host to future wind turbine projects.