Ontario caved into bullying when it accepted the renewable energy application for a proposed wind farm on the Nor’Wester Mountain range, says the president of an opposition group.
Horizon Wind Inc. was notified Tuesday their REA was accepted by the Ministry of the Environment as meeting the standards of the Green Energy Act for a 16-turbine wind farm on the local mountain range.
The public has 60 days to submit input and the ministry will say whether final approval is given in six months.The application will now be posted on this Ontario government website, where public comment is invited.
Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee president John Beals said he’s surprised the ministry let the project get this far in the process.
“It’s disappointing to see this project moving forward in the slightest way,” he said.
Beals said the province has only allowed it to get this far because they have been bullied by a judicial review Horizon brought forward.
Horizon also brought forward a lawsuit against the city; both the lawsuit and judicial review have been withdrawn.
“If that’s the type of environment and society we live in, there’s something wrong. Surely to goodness the government can stand up and say ‘time out, folks. We’re not going to deal with developers like this,’” Beals said.
The NMEPC has already started reviewing the REA and Beals said he’s appalled by the quality of the documents. He also doesn’t believe the project will get the final approval it needs in six months.
“It is land that cannot be given up to industrial development. It is a piece of land that has been held in trust. If we start giving up parcels of land like this for industrialization, we as a community, we as a province, will suffer greatly,” he said.
And Beals said the group will continue to fight the project.
“We are vigilant. We are on top of it. We will do so right until this project has been ended and that is not ending with a happy outcome for Horizon,” he said.
Horizon’s director of community and public affairs Kathleen MacKenzie said to call the judicial review application bullying is inaccurate.
“We saw it as asking for a third party, a neutral third party, to evaluate whether the regulations had been properly applied by the Ministry. I don’t think the Ministry saw it as bullying,” she said.
“I think they saw it as a business practice that occurs with some regularity.”
MacKenzie said while the ultimate decision won’t come for another six months, this step is a good sign.
She doesn’t see any more hurdles and said the company has done more consultation than is legally required.
“Of the projects that have come before the ministry, this one has been one of the most thoroughly discussed and evaluated and considered in the public realm. I think all the issues that could be raised have been raised and addressed,” she said.
Horizon is pleased to be a step further in the process and MacKenzie said she thinks Thunder Bay will be pleased to have this facility when all is said and done.
MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan) disagrees.
“I don’t think people will be happy,” he said. “I’m not happy. I’m disappointed this company continues to move forward with a project that it’s obvious nobody wants in this location.”
“I don’t want it. I don’t think the municipality of Neebing wants it. I don’t think Fort William First Nation wants it. I don’t think the local community wants it. Even though the City of Thunder Bay has a contract with this company, it’s my personal belief they probably prefer the project not go forward.”
MacKenzie said the wind farm will initially consist of eight turbines, with an option to expand to 16, and should be generating power in 2014.
In their lease with the city, Horizon has until Sept. 2, 2014 to construct at least one turbine before the city can provide notice to terminate the lease.
Note to readers: This story has been expanded significantly since it was first published Tuesday, April 24. Many comments below may refer to earlier versions of this story.
