Just because there has been little discussion at county council about wind turbines doesn’t mean the issue has been blown out of sight.
Councillor Lynda White rose on May 26 to thank Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever and his council for rejecting an approach from a turbine company.
On April 18, Christine Koenig of Koenig Consultants, along with Arvid Hesse of wpd Canada Corporation, made a pitch to Puslinch council and received a chilly reception.
White, who represents the northern part of Centre Wellington and southern part of Wellington North Township, noted wind turbine opponents would be coming to council on June 28 to provide a status report.
“It’s a really big issue in my ward,” White told council. “I thank Puslinch council for its stand.” White said turbines are “an issue that affects [people’s] lives, their family and their livelihood.”
She added, “It’s great we live in a democracy where we can be mad at our government and be able to voice that.”
Warden Chris White told council the rules regarding the Feed-in Tariff have been changed by the provincial government, and now there is a point system that turbine developers must meet to obtain a contract to produce hydro.
He said that means a council’s approval provides the company with some points towards obtaining a contract, but withheld approval can hurt such a bid.
The warden said that means perhaps municipalities will have more sway when it comes to dealing with turbine applications. Prior to the change, the municipality had almost no say at all about the applications, because the province removed that power from them.
White also said he hopes wind farm opponents have not got the impression the county is not concerned about them – because it is.
White said he would like to hear a list of the steps the anti- turbine group has taken in its battle and noted he said from the beginning the move to turbine power by the province was “an economic mix-up.”
