It looks like at least one big city is finally joining the bandwagon when it comes to voicing concerns on the siting of wind energy projects.
Ottawa is looking for mandatory consent from municipalities in the siting of energy projects.
In commenting on the city of Ottawa letter and resolution on July 20, Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever said in the past, “in the past, it’s been relatively small municipalities that have been pursuing this.
“Now the city of Ottawa, because of it’s large rural area is getting involved.”
Ottawa councillor Scott Moffatt wrote on behalf of Ottawa council to Minister of Energy Bob Chiarelli.
Moffatt stated “As you know, the City of Ottawa has a unique geography that includes a large portion of rural lands, which is a draw for wind power developers.”
He stated, “Given that municipal governments are responsible for local planning matters, and since wind power projects have significant implications in the planning process, the City of Ottawa believes that renewable energy projects should go through the existing planning framework that takes Ottawa’s Official Plan, community sustainability, and input of the community into consideration.”
However Moffatt was concerned the current municipal role (in the siting of such projects) is designed to be consultative, and lacks any decision-making authority.
As a result, Ottawa is asking the province to make the necessary legislative and/or regulatory changes to grant municipalities a substantive and meaningful role in siting wind power projects and that the “Municipal Support Resolution” becomes a mandatory requirement in the IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator) process.
