Unlike Wellington North, council here is not supporting Mapleton Township’s bid for a moratorium on wind energy projects.
Last year, Mapleton passed a resolution asking for a moratorium on wind energy projects until a health study was done by an independent third party.
The item was before Minto council earlier this year, but deferred, pending additional information.
On Feb. 3, Mayor David Anderson said he’d had a chance to look into the item further and spoke to both representatives of Mapleton and to Perth-Wellington MPP John Wilkinson.
He said much of what is being discussed involves the Ontario government.
Anderson said this one of the things the Ontario government took on, which means there will be the same regulations across the province.
“It’s a standardized system to look after the health issues and the ground water services.”
He said that with that authority and power, if there is something detrimental to people’s health, the province has the authority to alter the regulations. Anderson the province has reviewed numerous studies of areas already utilizing wind power.
“They feel a lot of those objectives have already been achieved.”
Anderson said there are companies looking to invest in the province of Ontario, and “if there are too many roadblocks, these companies may have an issue over developing these wind farms.” However, Anderson said the current regulation should meet the needs of the people in Ontario.
“If we put up more roadblocks and challenge the government to do more studies, you’re looking at a year to two years. Unfortunately these studies take that much time to do, and are fairly expensive.”
He pointed out the control is through the provincial government and that there are safety nets in place to protect the citizens.
Anderson suggested support of this motion would only delay things and "I don’t think anything will really change in the long run.”
Deputy mayor Judy Dirksen added while she did not have the same time to research the issue, she found that the studies where there were health challenges found “those studies tend not to be published in the health journals.”
“Those studies have not been peer reviewed very well, which I find interesting, and a bit suspect, since that is what those journals are for.”
She said the studies take on more status when they are published in those journals.
“My feeling is that it is the province which should be looking after this.”
Dirksen then suggested looking back at the issues related to the implementation of the Nutrient Management Act.
She pointed to the local hours and staff resources used looking into the matter when the municipalities tried to look after it.
“Once the province took over, we really don’t hear a whole lot about it anymore. I’m hopeful that is what will happen with wind energy as well,” Dirksen said.
She agreed there are people who live near wind turbines who believe their health has been affected.
“My understanding is that is one of the issues the province will be looking at.”
Councillor later turned down the resolution to support the moratorium.
