In a roundabout way, county council has supported Mapleton Township’s bid to ask the province to place a moratorium on all current wind energy project proposals.
Mapleton council sent that resolution to other Ontario municipalities with the proviso that approval of wind energy projects cease “until a health study has been completed by an independent third party.”
The county was debating a letter from Peterborough County, that supported the Mapleton resolution.
When administration, finance and personnel committee chairman Chris White presented the committee’s recommendation, he immediately said he would like to have that motion considered separately. His committee had agreed only to receive the letter for information, and not to support it.
Councillor Lynda White then stated council should support the resolution.
“There needs to be more study on health issues and setbacks,” she said. She added that 103 municipalities have already supported that motion.
Councillor Walter Trachsel then proposed an amendment to the recommendation that would have the county supporting the motion.
Councillor and Mapleton Mayor John Green said his council passed the motion, and said of the county’s committee deliberations, “Whatever happened at AFP [the committee] didn’t happen. I think you’re trying to correct that.”
County planner Gary Cousins explained the provincial government had forced the county to set rules and regulations for wind farms, and the county, over several months and at great expense, had complied.
Shortly after that, the provincial Liberal government decided to take the approval of wind farms out of the hands of the municipalities entirely, reserving the right to grant all approvals and leaving the municipalities with no say.
“They said they would make their own” policies, Cousins said.
After a number of procedural wrangles, the council unanimously approved support for the motion.
