By Paul Morden, The Sarnia Observer
Wind farm opponents have withdrawn their appeal of Ontario’s approval of a four-turbine Zephyr Farms project near Watford. Several weeks of hearings were scheduled to begin next week in Alvinston. Esther Wrightman, with the Middlesex-Lambton Wind Action Group, said it made the decision to withdraw its appeal Thursday following a recent pre-hearing decision by the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal.
That came after the Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment submitted “about 170 questions” about medical, real estate and other records the government wanted answered by 23 witnesses the wind group planned to call at the hearings.
Wrightman said the tribunal ruled, just six days before the start of the hearings, that it wanted to see the information the ministry requested.
“It’s like being tripped on the last lap of your race,” Wrightman said.
Gathering and compiling all of the information being sought before the hearing date wasn’t possible, Wrightman said.
“As much as we’d like to, it would have been a shoddy job,” she said. “You have to do it right.”
Going ahead with the hearings, in light of what the tribunal said, wouldn’t have been fair to the group’s witnesses, Wrightman said.
They included people living in communities around Ontario where wind farms are already up and operating.
A lack of clear rules at the tribunal make it a challenge for group’s filing appeals, Wrightman said.
“They’re not specific in the way they run it and they clearly say when you’re there, “Well, you know what, we’re just learning as we go here.’”
But, Wrightman said the lessons learned this time can be used by the group’s lawyer, and other wind opponents, in future appeals of other wind energy projects.
“At least we have a clearer vision of what they want to see,” she said.
If the tribunal rules a renewable energy project will cause serious harm to human health, or the environment, it can revoke or alter the approval given by the province.
The launch of the wind action group’s appeal didn’t stop work on the Zephyr Farms project at Ebenezer Road and Churchill Line in Brooke-Alvinston. Crews have been working through the winter to erect the four turbines for Mississauga-based Green Breeze Energy.
It’s vice-president, Brent Hall, said company officials were happy to hear the appeal has been withdrawn.
“Now, we can just focus on finishing the project and starting to produce power,” he said.
“Three turbines are up and the fourth one will be going up shortly.”
Connection to the electricity grid should also be in place within a week to allow testing to start, he said.
“Hopefully by the end of March, we’re producing power.”
As for claims made by wind turbine opponents, Hall said, “There is no medical evidence out there that wind turbines cause any effect at all to human health.”
Wrightman said she feels disappointed, particularly following the work the group and its lawyer put into the appeal.
“The worst of it is knowing that turbines are going up and they didn’t get that day in court,” she said.
“It feels like you’ve been somewhat robbed. It’s not a great feeling at all.”
Wrightman said group members were looking forward to putting their case against industrial wind turbines before the tribunal.
“It will happen,” she said, “Just not right now and not here.”
Now let’s concentrate on the Rally and Lisa Thompson’ s Bill on the 8th of March (next week) .
get a bus load together and check in at mfraymond@sympatico.ca
And how many rural Ontarians are still willing to buy Petro-Canada fuels? Farmers use a lot of fuel during the growing & harvesting seasons.
Off topic but purchased a new TV last month and didn’t even consider buying a Samsung.
I would never buy a Samsung product again. I wouldn’t take it for free. Need to know more more about this rally. P
I am so sorry Esther and all you brave souls that had faith that the system would listen to you. Take a much needed break and try to remember that these turbines will come down faster than they went up! The wind industry is really suffering. The public perceive them as carpetbaggers. McGuinty is becoming known for the scoundrel he is and he will not be able to show his face in Ontario, mark my words he will run. There are very strong groups out here and things always get dirty before the truth wins out. OR, The darkest hour is always just before the dawn. We have all learned from you …that knowledge will change the game… First they laughed at us, then they ignored us, now they are fighting for the trough but next we win… and we willl win!
170 questions on short notice, why didn’t they just ask the questions during the hearing? I am peeved at those weasels.
“Learning as we go” Is this an exact quote by the ERT? Could also mean they don’t know what they are doing.
Learning as you go is not acceptable. This is the ministry we are supposed to trust. Loos like they found a way to take the easy way out. The hearings could have been delayed to get the info, was that even a consideration?
An adjournment was asked for, and denied by the ERT. “Unreasonable procedure” is the nicest way I can put it.
The ERT is playing games and this is unacceptable. To give people six days to answer 170 questions is outrageous. Throw a weekend in there and possibly spring break for some….
For the tribunal to make up the rules as they go along is crazy. WTF!? As a child I used to play games and make up the rules as I went along but that was not messing with peoples lives, this is.
Esther and her group made the correct decision, at least now we know what the ERT is looking for, even though they may change the rules yet again – who knows?
Is there anyway we can get the 170 questions posted or are they confidential? I would love to know what the ERT wants to know in regards to the witnesses.
Has someone forwarded information to the London Free Press regarding the imbalance here?
Its a Casino game that is rigged as these are government owned corporations and therefor rig for the slaves. when entering their system they created or should I say their game They have a game plan to set the rules and use legalese to spin their way out or at least hold them back for some more time.They feed off fear and stress and we are in their feeding pen. Judges wear black gowns and why is that? Ever looked at the flag in the background of a court room? Why is it outlined in gold frills.? It is also a money extracted machine to take more money. who pays the MOE lawyers? Who pays for the public at harm here? rigged system.
Isn’t it interesting that these wind company propagandists keep parroting the line that ” There is no medical evidence out there that wind turbines cause any effect at all to human health” . It’s as if they have to keep saying it in order to believe it themselves. Despite the mounting medical evidence coming forth, they’re either willfully ignorant or they just don’t care as long as their gov’t welfare supported companies keep fleecing the taxpayers.
Lean forward – finally – the MOE play’s its cards.
Indeed – ‘blessings’ come in strange ways.
‘[excerpt] Esther Wrightman, with the Middlesex-Lambton Wind Action Group, said it made the decision to withdraw its appeal Thursday following a recent pre-hearing decision by the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal.
That came after the Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment submitted “about 170 questions” about medical, real estate and other records the government wanted answered by 23 witnesses the wind group planned to call at the hearings.
Wrightman said the tribunal ruled, just six days before the start of the hearings, that it wanted to see the information the ministry requested.’
p.s. @ the local municipal level – a clue
Question: What constitutes a ‘complete application’ @ the local level of government – when it is never ‘complete’?
Next time ask more questions and ask for more records. It worked this time and be sure to allow only six days to comply.
Obviously the deck is stacked here in favour of the government. MOE has a staff of lawyers and researchers on hand, including the aptly named Ms Rotter who wondered where on earth Alvinston might be. Opponents are left paying both sides in the dispute, the salaries of people like Rotter, and their lawyer, out of donations. This should be publicised in the legislature, are you listening T Hudak?
The JUSTICE system is JUST-US system we are the dirt bags that they suck our energy from which is our time and donations while the JUST US group sucks in the winnings at the casino games they think they own. Nice so called SYSTEM we have,they running the show. Funny thing is we actually are suppose to run the business part and they work there.
Medical Evidence… Ya there might be medical evidence if our province wasn’t in such a Doctor crisis!
When you finally find a doctor (mine as lovely as she is… is fresh out of doctor school) hasn’t got a clue about anything related to Wind Turbine Syndrome (even though i gave her all the info and the internet is spewing out information) and doesn’t want to spend time and money on test that she feels won’t amount to anything, and if i want legal info well i better pay up first!
What’s up with that? So do i look for another doctor? maybe one who knows a little about this stuff… that would be the “needle in a haystack”!
Sadly we know more then our health profession! How do we know?
Because it’s the only thing that has changed in our environment… thousands of people across the globe who are experiencing the same thing can’t all be just imagining it!!!
Education is key!
Maybe it’s time to put up posters describing the Adverse Affects of Wind Turbines in the waiting rooms of every Hospital Emergency Room and Doctor’s offices across Ontario!
Yes that takes money, but if we each print up a handful at home and all place them where they can be seen, well that is a few more people educated!
The day i was there i recall someone saying that there was an increase of Vertigo in our area… Dahh… i wonder why… and why aren’t they asking themselves the same question…
Do we have to arrive there bleeding from every orifice or covered in puss filled lesions to show that these things are making us sick and ruining our lives?
It is an epidemic of sorts that will continue to plague more and more people as they continue to install these monsters.
If someone… like maybe the Government really wanted to do a proper study…(insert chuckle here) then they don’t have to look very far for test subjects…
I’ve been offering for months… but none of them have called me…
the Truth is that they already know the answer and they don’t give a DAM!
They have taken the ”care” out of “HEALTHCARE”…
and any Doctor who is not taking us seriously when we go to them pleading for help is Blatantly Neglecting their Hippocratic Oath of “Do No Harm!”
I. as i suppose many are also tired of being pawns in this game… it time we overthrow this Tyrannical Government bent on Medically, Environmentally & Financially bankrupting us!
Evidence… I’ll give them evidence… “When not if” i get my day in court!
(yes I’m preaching to the choir… everyone here has been fighting this fight much harder & longer than i have… it just makes me mad… and i don’t know what else to do… i tell as many people i can about this plight.. i sometimes wonder if anyone is listening…)
Don’t assume that “Doctor’s Ignorance” is limited to Wind Turbine Syndrome. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s a wide spread condition triggered by many ailments.
Been there. Persistent education works.
When nothing else works an equally arrogant attitude can sometimes get through. I have had doctors tell me that I don’t know how to read a research paper or a scientific study… Out of respect for the delicate sensibilities of some I will not write my reply — but it was not polite nor did I moderate my language…
Some of course are open minded and thoughtful. Others are too busy to listen…
Good luck and don’t give up.
great comments by all but do not assume Hudak or the MPP’s are reading this. Send THEM your thoughts.