Windfarm opponents launch petition

Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin August 8 2012 

CLEARVIEW TWP. — A group of Clearview Township residents fighting a windfarm proposal west of Stayner are upping the stakes.

Following a protest last Thursday outside the Stayner Community Centre, where windfarm development WPD Canada was hosting an open house for its Fairview Wind Project, Preserve Clearview has launched a petition calling on the provincial government to enact a moratorium on all wind turbine development in Ontario until a recently-announced federal government review of the health effects is complete.

The petition also calls on the province to recognize the presence of the Collingwood Regional Airport and a private aerodrome on County Road 91.

The petition states WPD’s reports “do not recognize these impacts” on those two facilities.

Petition organizers will be presenting the petition to Clearview Township council on Monday, and organizers hope it forms part of council’s discussion on a report by the municipality’s planning department recommending council not support WPD’s plan, and to urge the province not to issue an approval.

In a news conference held last Thursday afternoon, Collingwood Regional Airport officials emphasized their position that the location of at least two of the proposed turbines falls within the “outer surface” of the airport, as defined by Transport Canada.

Two other turbines sit right on the radius of that 2.1 nautical mile circle. Transport guidelines specify that no objects above 150 feet be located within that approach area; the proposed turbines would be 500 feet tall.

Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson will also present the petition to the Ontario Legislature when it gets back in session later this fall.

WPD officials claim the turbines located near the airport will only ‘delay’ no more than three flights annually.

Anyone wishing to sign a copy of the petition can go to Wilson’s office; Clearview Nursery on County Road 91 west of Stayner; the Creemore Echo, 3 Carolyn St.; Mac’s Corner Gas in Stayner, Shell Canada at Sunnidale Corners; or the Collingwood Regional Airport. Organizers are also encouraging residents to send or drop off letters to Mayor Ken Ferguson at the township offices in Stayner prior to Monday night’s meeting.