Chatham-Kent’s mayor is defending a decision to invest $8-million of municipal money into the North Kent Wind 1 project. 
Randy Hope says regardless of concerns over water well issues in Dover, the project is moving forward.
“The North Kent Wind project has received approval from the province to proceed,” Hope says. “There was clear direction from the Ministry of Environment as to what the obligations were of the project.”
Opponents of the project, including the activist group Water Wells First, are concerned that vibrations from wind turbines, especially during construction, are causing increased sediment and contamination of groundwater and nearby water wells.
However, Hope says the bottom line is that it’s a good financial decision.
“If you actually look at the numbers it’s a smart investment, and the returns are good for the community itself as a whole.”
The $8-million municipal investment in North Kent Wind 1 is expected to generate about $20-million dollars over the long-term.