This letter to the editor is reprinted from the Chatham Daily News
Sir: By now, many of us have been made aware of the public relations disaster created by the SouthPoint Wind Company of Leamington. Empowered by the antidemocratic provisions of the Liberal government's Green Energy Act, SouthPoint Wind hosted a series of brief, poorly organized and incoherent presentations around the county on March 27, announcing their intentions to erect 715 wind turbine towers in the waters of Lakes St. Clair and Erie.
The absurdity of this plan is only surpassed by the audacity of this company to tout this as good for the environment, despite its acknowledgement that there are few guidelines from the province to ensure so, and the arrogance of our provincial politicians who have deprived ordinary citizens of their right to effectively protest this plan. I also blame the Liberal government for this heinous mess and I certainly have no faith in South Point Wind's ability manage any project anywhere, given their amateurish dog-and-pony shows of March 27.
We can continue to debate ad nauseam the effects on people, wildlife and property values from the noise, lake-effect vibration and the constantly flickering shadows cast across the waters from the 2,145 turbine blades. But none of this is truly known yet since the Liberal Government is allowing the Great Lakes system (the largest source of fresh water in the world) to be used as a first-time laboratory experiment for lake-based wind farms. What is the point of developing wind technology to protect the environment if the natural beauty and eco-system of this part of the Great Lakes system is destroyed in the process?
Anyone that has ever marveled at the beauty of either of these two lakes from any of the public access points, marinas, beaches or parks along their shores may ask why we should allow the permanent alteration of these two shorelines when other alternatives are available. Specifically, would we be as concerned about noise, vibrations and esthetics if wind farms were located in any of the uninhabited and uninhabitable areas of this great country? Or for that matter, if they were to line the 401 corridor? Would energy from those areas be any less green? Or is it just less profitable for developers?
Like most people, I understand the importance of promoting green energy alternatives, but not at the cost of forever denying our children the opportunity to see the natural beauty of an unobstructed horizon from the shorelines of our lakes. Imagine standing at the water's edge and never again seeing the sunrise or sunset without 715 massive concrete and steel structures rising 125 meters out of the water to block your view. That's about as esthetically appealing as looking at 715 cell phone towers, or 715 highrise condos, or 715 statues of our provincial politicians waving back at us to remind us forever that they allowed this to happen.
— Anton Klarich
Stoney Point
http://eedition.chathamdailynews.ca/epaper/viewer.aspx
3 comments:
"The absurdity of this plan is only surpassed by the audacity of this company to tout this as good for the environment, despite its acknowledgement that there are few guidelines from the province to ensure so..."
You have to remember that government standards are set at the minimum acceptable levels. Just because the standard is met doesn't necessarily mean the levels are safe; especially when it comes to the environment.
Would you put it past the government to set the minimum levels in the case of water-based wind turbines by using the South Point Wind reports as their research starting point?
Great letter.
There's going to be a PC motion in the Ontario Legislature today proposing a moritorium on ALL wind turbine projects until the proper scientific studies can be completed.
We'll see how that is received by the majority Liberal government.
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