Chatham-Kent council has voted against two proposed wind turbine projects.
Crossfield Wind Inc. and Botany Wind Project Inc. both presented their proposed wind farms near Ridgetown to a packed council chamber that heard 28 deputations on the issue.
Resident Angela Leveille, who lost the use of their well back in 2018, five days after turbine operation began, expressed their dismay over council considering another wind farm proposal.
“Not one level of government has taken us seriously,” said Leveille. “This is not a well issue, this is a water issue. The fact that I am standing here because you are actually considering allowing this to potentially happen to other residents in CK again is heartbreaking and not deserving of my trust.”
Water quality was the main concern among deputations, with councillors agreeing there’s uncertainty over whether water would remain unaffected by the construction of new turbines.
“If it’s even slightly likely, I am not comfortable with that at all,” said Councillor Michael Bondy.
Crossfield Wind’s motion failed 13-4, with councillors Aaron Hall, Marjorie Crew, Morena McDonald, and Trevor Thompson in favour.
Botany Wind Project’s motion failed 11-6, with councillors Brock McGregor, Conor Allin, Aaron Hall, Marjorie Crew, Morena McDonald, and Trevor Thompson voting to approve the motion.
Ward 6 councillor Amy Finn, who previously voted against a motion in July 2024 to add Chatham-Kent to the unwilling host list, has now put forward a new notice of motion for the municipality to change its stance.
The unwilling host list is comprised of just over 155 communities that are opposed to new industrial wind power generation sites.
Council voted against joining the list in 2024 to keep the option open for future wind projects that might suit Chatham-Kent, with administration advising a case-by-case approach. However, a petition with more than 1,100 signatures and the deputations at Monday night’s meeting may have shifted council’s view on renewable energy, prompting another vote at their next meeting on October 20.
FLT Energy Inc. was also in attendance to pursue an Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) contract, which was voted through unanimously.
The Chatham-Kent-based company got approval to lease two vacant municipally owned lots for ground-mounted solar projects.
FLT Energy hopes to have the panels operational by 2030 with the lease agreement ending in 2050.