The proposed changes will…

The proposed changes will negatively impact my family, my business and me. The Nation Rise Wind project has been highly conditionally approved in the Township of North Stormont to which my property abuts. One of the proposed turbines is just over 600 m from our dairy and heifer barns which house over 200 head of cattle. Our son, his wife, and their 3 young children (under the age of 5) live in the farm house a further 40 m away. Although Ontario setbacks are required to be a minimum of 550m, worldwide this has been proven to be inadequate. Furthermore it has been scientifically proven that like people, young and old, animals experience the same health issues caused by proximity to industrial wind turbines. This project was also approved using the higher noise limits which even the former Liberal government recognized as being dangerous to health.
There are presently multiple power generating plants throughout North Stormont, in the same area as the Nation Rise wind project (and also throughout Ontario). These projects can produce more power than the proposed Nation Rise wind project. It appears the problem is IESO refuses to allow the bigger projects to connect to Hydro One equipment without an enormous insurance bond to cover any potential damage to their equipment. ERO 013-3800 would only require the proponent to show demand for the new capacity and not the existing. It would continue to revoke local municipal control over maintenance, future expansion or repowering of Nation Rise and other projects over its 20 to 40 year potential lifespan and multiple owners. It is suggested that any repowering or change in ownership should automatically invoke most current noise and safety regulations regardless of new or existing capacity. Before ANY change to ownership is approved proponent must independently have proven total compliance with terms of REA. Presently the wind industry does not require a license. Licenses should be required to recover approval, monitoring and complaint processing costs. Expeditious resolution of complaints MUST be a condition of an annual license and until such complaints are addressed and rectified the license will not be approved. The onus MUST be placed on the developer NOT the public.