Solar farm projects in Springwater and Oro Medonte

Around 30 people turned out to a meeting in Hillsdale last night for a presentation by Recurrent Entergy of California regarding two solar farms proposed for Springwater. A meeting will be held tonight in Hawkestone on two projects in Oro Medonte.

One of the Springwater projects, called Midhurst 2, is 40 hectares at the Old Second and Matheron Rd., the other is 30 hectares between Russell Rd. and the Old Second, north of Forbes Rd.
Recurrent Energy has retained Hatch, a multinational engineering consultant, to proceed with the projects under Ontario’s Renewable Energy Approval process.
Concerns expressed by residents included impact on wildlife and natural habitat, impact on fish in local streams like Matheson Creek, the loss of agricultural land, noise levels and water requirements (to wash the panels).
Answers were vague, our observer reports. Another meeting will be held in October.
A meeting will be held tonight in Hawkestone to look at Midhurst 3 (12 hectares in Oro-Medonte near Line 5 and Highway 11) and Midhurst 4 (another 20 hectares in the same area).
For more information visit Ontario Farmland Preservation (citizens’ gtoup). Ontario Solar Future (Ontario government list of projectsa)