It was not a unanimous decision, but councillors here are supporting Mapleton’s bid for a moratorium on wind energy projects.
In December, Mapleton received a delegation regarding wind energy projects in the area southwest of Arthur. At that meeting, Mapleton council passed a resolution noting receipt of the petition of over 250 citizens with concerns about health issues and ground water protection.
The township then requested province, through the Ministry of Environment, issue a moratorium on wind energy projects until a health study has been completed by an independent third party.
However, when the issue reached Wellington North council on Monday, opinions were divided. Wellington North itself, has a five-turbine wind energy project on the northeast edge of Arthur slated for construction later this year.
Late last year, council approved the site plan agreement for Arthur Wind Power Inc. Development and Schneider Power Inc. The site is located on Parts of Lot 2 and 3, Concession 2, in the former township of West Luther, north of a former railway land.
The agreement gives access and easement rights for the development and operation of a five-turbine wind energy farm, including the installation of wind turbine generators with foundations and towers.
Before council supported the Mapleton request, Wellington?North Mayor Mike Broomhead noted there were a number of issues raised as the reason for such a moratorium.
However, he believes other issues were involved and recommended the request be moved to the township’s economic development committee for further discussion and a recommendation. He thinks a couple of items which should be added in.
Councillor Ross Chaulk however, believed the resolution was fairly straight forward and asking for council’s support.
“It’s nothing else,” Chaulk said. “It is what is foremost in everyone’s mind … whether there are health risks associated with wind farms. Some experts say yes, others say no.”
Broomhead stated the issue goes further than health issues and well protection.
Councillor Dan Yake then asked where Wellington North stands on the issue.
“We’ve already approved a project in our own municipality based on information we’d received,” Yake said.
“Now, we’re going to jump in here listing other and new concerns? Really, before we approve one in our own municipality we should have been on this.”
He wondered if the municipality could step away from that and now say it was concerned with health issues and groundwater.
Broomhead said there were a number of studies included within Wellington North’s bylaw. Yake however said Wellington North had already approved one wind energy project, and has another “almost approved.”
Clerk Lori Heinbuch clarified that before the projects initially came before council, the Green Energy Act essentially took the approval authority away from municipalities.
“We don’t have any control,” she said.
Yake again stated council had already made its approvals.
Chaulk agreed council approved one wind farm, but argued the scale of that, compared to the one in Mapleton is far different.
“What they want to put up in Mapleton is much, much bigger than that,” said Chaulk.
“I see a big difference. If they had tried to put 60 turbines in our municipality, we’d probably still be haggling over it today. There’s no way we would have approved that.”
Broomhead added because of the timing, Wellington North did have the option of some control, while Mapleton does not.
Council’s motion to support Mapleton passed, with just Yake opposed.
