News
Wind power versus rural power (2012)
By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is calling on the provincial government to suspend the invasion of rural Ontario with industrial wind turbines.
Earlier this week OFA took a hard look at our own concerns with wind turbines. We have always been concerned with the price paid for wind power and the fact that it is not dispatchable – it is not stored for use during peak demand periods, making it highly inefficient. This was noted by Ontario’s Auditor General in his recent Annual Report in December 2011.
In addition, our technical concerns with regard to setback issues, induced current and noise impacts remain unaddressed.
OFA believes that the amendments to the Planning Act made under the authority of the Green Energy Act are not having the desired effect of providing for good planning. Removal of municipal input into industrial wind turbine projects has alienated the rural population and ignored competing community needs and policies.
All of these issues have been emphasized clearly by our members. Over the past few weeks we have clearly heard OFA members tell us of health concerns, concerns over the loss of farmland, encumbrances on their farm properties and many more issues related to the imposition of wind turbines across our rural landscape.
Most disconcerting of all is the impact wind turbines are having on the relationships across rural communities. When wind developments come to a community neighbours are pitted against neighbours. The issue of industrial wind turbine development is preoccupying the rural agenda.
OFA is telling the Ontario government our members have had enough. Rural Ontario cannot continue to be torn apart by wind turbines. The province needs to immediately suspend any further developments until our farm families and rural residents can be assured their interests are protected.
On behalf of rural Ontario, OFA needs to see the government enable community involvement in wind developments to ensure local planning issues and priorities are addressed. We need wind power to be priced right and made dispatchable so it can be used when we need it, rather than selling it at a loss during the nighttime. We need health and nuisance concerns addressed immediately and we need serious studies done on reasonable setback distances for the newer and larger turbines being planned.
The onus is on our provincial government to ensure the interests of rural Ontarians are protected. Our members are clearly telling us now that they are not. There are very serious concerns with wind energy as it is currently rolling out.
OFA supports green energy – Ontario needs a reliable, affordable source of renewable energy for our future. But we all need to work to ensure that green energy projects will respect concerns for noise, community involvement and price, balanced against the effective provision of that power.
Comments
Cathy Vitucci says on January 20, 2012 at 10:40 PM
Up until now the OFA has made statements in support of wind, which would prompt the radical anti winders speak out against your position.
Now I am certainly positive you will hear from your members who are in favor of wind.
The OFA membership renewal came in the mail recently, and I will be completing the section to have my fee returned to me.
celine dussault says on January 21, 2012 at 1:02 PM
The Green Energy Act has exactly the effect the McGuinty government wanted: remove the rights and power from the rural municipalities and citizens to oppose him.
Selling the energy powered at night time by Wind turbines to the Americans? How about paying millions to the American to take the surplus of energy generated by Wind turbines because the actual grid can not take it during a peak period of Wind turbine production?
How green is the Wind industry when they do not care about invading protected birds areas, like Ostrander Point in Prince-Edward County?
What about the contracts the farmers signed with these Wind Developper Companies - at the renewal of their contracts, what will be the choices left to the farmers sitting on a Wind Farm filled with giant outdated wind turbines in 10 years, in 25 years from now? I do not agree with these new conditions, take your wind turbines back?
Who is and will be responsible for liabilities or decommissionning the lands, when the Wind Developper companies disappeared through merging, selling out or simply shut down?
How much can we, our industries and in a few years our children, pay for electricity? In France, the electricity bills went up - 5 times higher - in a few years to sustain the Wind industry.
How can the government and the wind companies state that so many wind turbines provide the needs of so many houses when the energy generated is not constant? Get real, it does not provide alone for any house unless you are willing to use energy only when it comes from the turbines !
Too many questions left unanswered. Too many doubts. Very heavy consequences on the futur of our land, irreversible effects on the environment and so many species.
The technology is rapidly evolving, better solutions than giant turbines invading our land and waters will soon be available.
But most of all, we should have the power back into our own hands to decide in a real democratic fashion what we want.
Jutta Splettstoesser says on January 21, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Dear Mark and OFA Board,
in September 2011 I have introduced myself as a farmer and supporter of wind energy development and offered my help to the OFA. The path that you are taking seems to be under strong influence of negative propaganda and bullying tactics.
Farmers deserve facts, science and an organization that is seeking out to broaden their level of knowledge before making statements on behalfof its members. There seems to be a lack of communication and education.
Wind energy id the cheapest available source of power when you put all costs in, compare it to new builld production sites and see the guaranteed price of power over 20 years. Renewables are not indexed to inflation rate. Harvesting clean energy on Ontario farms is a reality. The grid is able to handle up to 20% of intermittent energy without storage. Former anti-wind protestor in Australia admits that he was wrong about the noise issue.
I'm hoping to engage into a conversation with the OFA to make sure that all voices in rural Ontario will be heard. The silent majority of Ontario supports wind development.
Best regards,
Jutta Splettstoesser
Kincardine full-time farmer
Member of Friends of Wind
rob s says on January 21, 2012 at 5:01 PM
this article is absolute baloney
you are letting the fear mongerers control the agenda for clean no fuel no water no emissions energy give me nat gas, hydro and no fuel use energy any day just another example of nimbyism
Helen Belbeck says on January 21, 2012 at 8:06 PM
I am in total agreement with the stand taken by the OFA. They seem to have addressed most of the problematic issues. We purchased our home three years ago only to find we were to be surrounded by these monstrous turbines. We are both 72 years of age and hoped we would get a fair market value for our home when we were ready for a seniors home. Now we would be lucky to be able to sell for any price. It sure doesn't seem fair for the land owners to make a pocket full of easy money while the rest of us lose big time. Helen
Jeanne Melady says on January 22, 2012 at 7:45 AM
Thank you. This is the message that needs to be given to the government. There will be pushback from both industry and government. However, when you sit down at the table at the end of the month to share the position, please remind them that this is the same message that was given in the October election. We, the people of rural Ontario, will not accept the loss of our rights.
Qaz says on January 23, 2012 at 12:02 AM
Thanks Mark ,
you have looked at the truth of the matter ,
The facts are there, the people are learning the for themselves , your votes reflect what the majority thinks
Alexander Younger says on January 23, 2012 at 3:29 PM
Well done - there's too much misleading information about wind. Sadly most of it is coming from the wind lobby group CANWEA who has had the ear of the government for too long. It's time for some real studies so we can get some real facts so people can make real educated decisions.
VinceParoose says on January 23, 2012 at 6:36 PM
Well the NIMBY bully tactics have hit the OFA political structure. All those lucrative lot severances up & down the side road have delivered one more cost to farmers by denying our right to an ensured cash flow from turbines & solar panels. They have used alleged health issues and non-dispatchability (as if hydro generation is) to justify the call for a halt to green energy. How spineless and short-sighted.
Carol Barker says on January 23, 2012 at 7:43 PM
Thank you Mark and OFA!
Excellent and valid points. Hope you will maintain this position for the majority of rural residents and not waiver when confronted by CanWEA and the wind energy developers. I hope the REA process will be become more rigorous with wind energy developers having to include scientific research on setback allowances (with incremental increases for higher towers - 124m plus 55m blade proposed for Niagara Region), noise, wind velocity, human health issues, property values, agricultural animal productivity and welfare, air traffic flight paths, environmental and ecological impact, health and safety issues for domestic animals, long term adverse effect of cement pedestals on ground water, depletion of finite local aggregate supply and, in some areas, induced seismic activity on faults. Research is expensive; mistakes are more costly!
Karl Chittka says on January 23, 2012 at 9:59 PM
Hi Mark and board members
I am very disapointed with the turn around position OFA has taksn on Green Energy on both Wind and Solar. I do not understand why OFA wants to hurt members that are prepared to give up a small portion of their land to produce pollution free energy and getting paid for it. Most complaint come from people that can not paticipate in the program because of the safety regulations in effect plus the fact they have no financial benefits. My neighbours in Melanchton Township are very healthy and financially well of for the last 5 years. I think you are moving away from the motto "Farmers working for Farmers" to " Farmers working against Farmers" There is absolute no benefit to OFA in the stand you have taken. Unless I read some supporting comments from OFA on pollution free wind energy and solar my membership for 2012 will change after 25 years. Yes I am mad about the turn around
Just a Bill says on January 23, 2012 at 11:11 PM
My OFA sign is no longer on my mail box,good lord how many health studies do you need!! It sounds more like you will be changing your name to the PC-OFA and do party commercials for them , you where right on, the fact that it has divided many folks out here as you have now divided the farmers that you where suppose to support!
Peter Stewart says on January 24, 2012 at 9:05 AM
The O.F.A. executive has just discovered that wind power is more expensive than coal or gas.
Perhaps if they had consulted their member base, the would have also discovered a trend called global warming.
Farmer members deserve better than being represented by a body so out of touch with the issues.
Patrick Jilesen says on January 24, 2012 at 9:45 AM
Perhaps such challenges with wind energy regulations are not being made clear enough: Industrial Wind Turbines (IWT's) encroach on neighbouring land owners when the 550m shadow of an IWT falls on neighbouring land, forcing these neighbours out of any chance to expand their homes and farm operations. The problem is, there ARE NO REGULATIONS for setbacks to farm buildings when everywhere else in the world there are setbacks. If the science behind regulations are incomplete, then the IWT's must not proceed. Furthermore, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has yet to bring forward regulations for municipalities for issuing building permits for homes and buildings FROM IWT's. All indications are, the setbacks for new homes(noise receptors) will mirror that of the IWT's. We, the people of Ontario, need to have the regulations in place before proceeding any further with IWT's. Proper land use planning policy is not being followed.
M Elmes says on January 24, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Thank you OFA!! We have withheld our support of your organization for the last several years because of your support of the wind industry, but now we can support you again. The industrial wind industry is a scam that will not improve our environment, it is not economomically viable. The wind industry is good at destroying rural relationships, property values and health and sucking up the tax dollars of all Ontarians. Good for the OFA for finally seeing the reality. Now please get to work to help all those currently suffering negative effects see justice done.
The O'Brien's says on January 24, 2012 at 5:22 PM
This was very reassuring to see the new position on IWT's and trust that it is not "to little to late". There are some [like ourselves} who asked for this position some years ago and were virtually ignored. Because of it we now direct our support to another farm organization that was prepared to listen and voice concern.
We trust that you will be going after the Federal Government who are looking at new legislation that mirrors the Ontario Governments position on separation rules.
The education has to be made in the urban areas. Until the urban block of voters get the message this current Provincial Government [the Liberals] don't care.
Time to turn up the heat.
To Mr. Chittka we say "you should talk to ALL your neighbours about the issue, especially those that have had to move away because of problems".
To Vince we say "study the whole issue and you may discover the problems for yourself" The issues are real.
the Kerr`s says on January 25, 2012 at 1:13 PM
we feel that there should have been more studies in the first place we have solar love it when it is no use any more it can be removed. we also know of people that could not get a loan to buy a farm near wind turbines and others that cannot sell. McGuinty should have to live under on for a time.
dave says on January 26, 2012 at 4:53 PM
The main issue regarding turbines is that not everyone is getting them and consequently do not want others to have them.It is also unfortunate that not everyone who wanted a micro-fit solar could get connected especially if it is built.I have solar and will have turbines this year.When I started farming 33 years ago I wanted to grow tobacco so my dad built tobacco barns for me.Schools had smoking areas for the students .The world has changed.Now we have the next generation involved and he wants to be in the green energy sector so I have helped as much as I can.I live across the road from turbines and can faintly hear them in an east wind as we are on the west side.If walking on our driveway you have to stop walking and turn out of the breeze to hear them.When I divide my hydro bill dollars by the kilowatts used I pay 14 cents per kilowatt after the smoke screen billing system is done with me.OPA is currently paying 13.5 cents for wind.I was misrepresented in a local media interview recently and was hit with many false statements from the reporter and the comment section about how much farmers are paid and that we won,t be able to sell the farm.We are not selling our farm and I hope not too many of the farmers with turbines or about to have them settled for $15,000. If we were to sell it would be sold by noon.
paul says on January 27, 2012 at 5:01 PM
The problem is there is a lot retired people with their nice little few acre residents and they dont want to see change.IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE VIEW!!!!!!. Anybody seen the new ELGIN COUNTY tv commercial it is AWESOME do you think these people area worried about land values dropping NOT!!!!!!!. These people care about our worlds future.
Peter Middleton says on January 28, 2012 at 2:12 PM
To Mark and the rest of the OFA executive. You are to be commended for having the integrity to listen to your membership and for revising your stance on green energy, particularly as it relates to Industrial Wind Turbines. As a result, I WILL renew my membership in the OFA.
It is important that you take the time to fully understand the problems with IWT's. Many of our members have been blinded by the dollar signs and have only listened to the preachings of the wind industry. Much has been made in the media that "there are no DIRECT adverse health affects associated with IWT's". No one is denying that. That is like saying IWT's do not fire bullets! It is the INDIRECT affects that are the most problematic, and the only way to ensure public safety is to increase the distance from IWT's to homes.
Be strong in your stance and do not waiver in dealing with any member of our ruling political party. Thousands of rural families are hoping that the influence of the OFA can bring some sanity to the GEA.
John Van Strien says on February 3, 2012 at 7:29 PM
I am very disappointed with the stand the OFA is taking on windmills. I live on Wolfe Island in the heart of the windmills and they have brought nothing but benefits to the Island and the rural community. Very few farmers in this area are upset with the windfarm. It takes very little space on the farm and allows me to farm up right against them. The noise is very minimum, the lights do not bother us and they look magnificient. There are some people against them and basicaly it is jealousy. I will be requesting my money back from the OFA or maybe support another organization. The community here has benefited greatly from them
David says on February 7, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Why is the OFA making a policy statement (seeking a moratorium on wind turbines) representing me an OFA member, based on a poll not restricted to OFA members??
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