MAPLETON – Survey results are in, and council has unanimously agreed the township should continue to be unwilling to host new industrial wind turbine energy projects.
In September, renewable energy company Innergex approached Mapleton Township and expressed interest in exploring a new wind turbine project.
Mapleton has declared itself an unwilling host for future wind turbines since 2013, shortly after the commissioning of the Conestogo Wind Energy Centre.
The township is one of more than 150 Ontario municipalities that have officially declared themselves unwilling hosts to new turbines.
In September, council passed a resolution for staff to gather public input to determine whether there is community interest in Mapleton becoming a willing host.
“Innergex has reached out to potential leaseholders in the community with a slow response,” states a report from climate change coordinator Martin Tamlyn that was presented to council on March 18.
The report summarized the public input gathered and outlined the pros and cons of wind turbines.
“In rural communities, industrial wind turbine projects can offer revenue opportunities for landowners, and, in some cases, for the community, while also providing clean energy to meet Ontario’s growing electricity demand,” the report states. “Renewable energy projects are also crucial for reducing reliance on natural gas.”
However, wind turbines can be “visually intrusive, noisy and impactful to human health and wildlife,” the report continues.
According to Cordelio Power officials, development on the Conestogo Wind Energy Centre began in 2006.
The project “has a maximum generating capacity of up to 23 megawatts, enough energy for approximately 5,700 homes in Ontario,” Cordelio Power officials state.
Cordelio Power owns 51 per cent of the Conestogo Wind Energy Centre and Axium Infrastructure owns 49%. It is operated by NextEra Energy Canadian Operating Services, Inc.
Mapleton staff contacted residents who own or rent within two kilometres of the Conestogo Wind Energy Centre and asked them to complete voluntary anonymous surveys.
More than half of the residents on the 39 properties identified responded to the survey, according to township officials.
Climate change is a general concern for 80% of the residents who responded to the survey. Overall, 70% of respondents described their experience with the wind turbines as negative, while 15% described a positive experience.
Three quarters of the respondents said wind power should not be encouraged in Ontario.
One third of the respondents (11 people) reported health issues related to the wind turbines.
One person relocated because of the wind turbines.
Many expressed concern about property values, with 70% stating their property value has decreased due to the project.
One in five respondents reported witnessing birds or bats be injured or killed by wind turbines.
According to a report from Natural Resource Solutions Inc. posted on Cordelio Power’s website, 19 dead birds and 50 dead bats were found within 50 metres of the ten wind turbines between May and November 2014.
The Ministry of Natural Resources outlines the following thresholds for the maximum number of average annual bird and bat mortalities at wind turbines:
- 14 bird mortalities per turbine (Conestogo Wind Energy Centre reports 2.8 annual bird mortalities per turbine); and
- 10 bat mortalities per turbine (Conestogo Wind Energy Centre reports seven annual bat mortalities per turbine).
“The survey responses highlighted various concerns regarding industrial wind turbines, particularly their effectiveness in mitigating climate change and their potential impacts on communities, agriculture and the environment,” the report states.
“Many respondents emphasized the importance of fair consultation and expressed how these projects have affected friendships, family relationships and land values.
“There is a strong belief that placing wind turbines near communities and prime agricultural areas, like Mapleton, could pose challenges to daily life and livelihoods.”
According to a letter Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae sent to Mapleton Township in October, “Municipalities must be willing hosts to any renewable energy projects” in order for them to be approved.
The letter stated proposed renewable energy projects on or near farmland require agricultural impact assessments.
“Renewable energy is the way of the future,” said councillor Michael Martin.
“Does it make sense to be throwing windmills on the best farmland in Ontario? Arguably not.
“But there are other places that could be appropriate, and there’s other types of renewable energy.”
Tamlyn said the Independent Electric Systems Operator is projecting energy needs to increase by 75%, especially low carbon transition and electrification.
“So these projects are really important, but there’s a process to them and one of the first parts to that process is this pre-engagement and discussion, and usually at this time is when municipalities [inform companies] that they’re likely to move forward with that project,” he said.
