North Gower-Richmond (Ottawa), October 26–Hundreds of residents jammed into the largest hall in the Recreation Centre in North Gower today, to listen to speakers and sign petitions to declare the community Not a Willing Host to a proposed wind power project.

The 20-megawatt project is on hold, waiting for Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli to announce the new “procurement” process and application procedure for large-scale renewable power generation projects, which is expected to happen in January, 2014. The wind power developer Prowind, based in Germany,already told The Ottawa Citizen it  intends to reapply for the subsidy program, and that it would work to make local residents “comfortable” with the project.

But the citizens looked anything but comfortable Saturday as they lined up to sign a petition to go to the City of Ottawa demanding to be declared Not a Willing Host.

Ottawa Wind Concerns chair Jane Wilson said that the $20-million…

In a letter to Environmental and Lands Tribunal Ontario, a lawyer at Torys LLP, representing wind power developer NextEra in the appeal of the Adelaide wind power project, objects to the appellant’s request to videorecord the proceedings.

Justin Necpal writes “There is evidence that anti-wind groups [sic] have used the Internet and social media to criticize REA appeal participants, creating the potential for a threatening environment for wind developers and the governmental agencies that are involved in issuing approvals for wind energy projects. In one recent REA appeal, audio recordings of the hearing were made and photos of legal counsel were taken, and both were posted to the Internet. There are other examples of activities by wind opponents that give rise to personal security concerns for those participating in REA appeals…” See the full letter, copied to appellant Esther Wrightman, here.

Mr Necpal, who is a litgation lawyer…

From today’s Financial Post, Tom Adams and Kathy Hamilton on the latest Big Ideas for renewable power in Ontario.

Ontario’s latest electricity scheme: Pumped energy storage

Tom Adams and Kathy Hamilton, Special to Financial Post | Published: 10/10/13 9:31 AM ET

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

As the Ontario government’s $1-billion gas plant relocation scandal slips into history, the province’s electricity ratepayers should not assume that the era of big-ticket rate-boosting power projects of questionable value is a thing of the past. Now comes the “Smart Grid” and a host of other projects.

None of these ideas comes cheap, including pumped electricity storage, a plan making its way through…

Parker Gallant: Who really sets Ontario’s Energy Policies?

(October 7, 2013)

In Ontario it’s a well-known fact that the Green Energy and Green Economy Act (GEA) was developed because a small group of people convinced a past Energy Minister, George Smitherman, it was needed. That group, the Green Energy Act Alliance (GEAA), even claim they helped him write the Act!

Several ministers later and things haven’t changed even though current Energy Minister, Bob Chiarelli has talked a lot about engaging communities, smaller municipalities and other stakeholders in revisions to the siting of gas, wind and solar generating plants. Minister Chiarelli has even invited input on revisions to the Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP). Despite the rhetoric however, it still appears that the time spent by all but the environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) will fall on deaf ears.

The writing was on the wall from the first announcement by Minister Chiarelli on…

Coalition of ‘Unwilling Host’ Municipalities

Press Statement October 6, 2013

Over the past week, the total number of ‘Unwilling Host’ municipalities grew to 71 as South Dundas and Bruce County endorsed resolutions removing support for more wind turbines in their municipalities. This number has more than doubled since the provincial government announced in late May that they were going to address municipal concerns with the wind turbine program.  Two more Councils, Greater Napanee and West Elgin, are expected to consider related resolutions at meetings this week.

This growing opposition is a response to activities by wind turbine companies in areas not previously affected by projects and an understanding that Ontario does not need more electricity at this time.  Municipalities are seeing the impact of existing turbines on their communities or their neighbours and do not want the same things to happen in their municipality.  The government’s proposals for community benefit…

Here, from The Wellington Times, is Rick Conroy’s update on the fight to save the environment at Ostrander Point in Prince Edward County.

Reloading

Eric Gillespie speaks to a gathering of the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists last week in Bloomfield.

PECFN readies for courtroom battle to defend Ostrander Point from MOE and developer

It was an evening to celebrate—to recognize a most improbable win against two powerful adversaries. It was also time to begin preparations for the next battle to save Ostrander Point from the development of industrial wind turbines.

The Prince Edward County Field Naturalists (PECFN) gathered last week at a hall in Bloomfield for a feast of homemade casseroles, salads and squares to rejoice in the Environmental Review Tribunal decision to revoke the approval of a nine industrial wind turbine project on Ostrander Point on south shore of Prince Edward County. The Tribunal ruled that…

We reported yesterday that Gilead Power is actively prospecting for landowners to lease 10,000 hectares of land for a wind power project. The citizens of Greater Napanee held a public information meeting last night. Note the comments from a landowner who has been approached numerous times by the aggressive wind power developer.

Here is a report from local resident Bill Daverne.

Greater Napanee says “No”

Tuesday night, the Town of Greater Napanee held an open council meeting dedicated to public input on the proposed Gilead Power 40-80MW Dorland wind power project.

Dorland is to be sited in a 10,000-hectare swath of properties south and east of Hay Bay in the waterfront community in which Sir John A. Macdonald lived as a child, and which is today a mix of farms, residences and recreation properties.

Lease acquisition is well underway, but no Feed In Tariff or FIT contract has been…