Wind Farm Article

This article does not reflect Green Party policy. It is the opinion of the author only. It has stirred considerable controversy. In order that the debate include the initial article it has been reproduced here as it originally appeared in the July 5 Green Canada Vert newsletter.

The Green Party strongly supports properly sited wind energy and we hope to publish another article on wind energy, reflective of policy, in the next edition of the Green Canada Vert newsletter.

Camille

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Lower St. Lawrence Experiences the Downside of Wind Development

The following article is the first of a new series dedicated to local issues. We’ll try to present topics of interest to everyone and we invite readers to share their experience and knowledge on local challenges. This article was if
the promoters have not declared bankruptcy to avoid paying for dismantling of wind towers, the foundations will be left to the grandchildren of the original owners. It would be better to force promoters to put money in trust to cover end-of-life dismantling; a form of asset fund for future generations.

If promoters and shareholders had their way, public enquiries would not be necessary. Industrial wind farms are not nice and green like the promoters want us to believe.

In our riding, they are telling us that there will be an economic windfall, but 75% of the expenses go for the turbine and Quebec does not produce any. Industrial wind farms create no permanent jobs because the turbines are monitored by a technician working far away in an office filled with computers.
Wind farm projects need planning. The huge towers will still be on our landscape when today's decision-makers are dead. Municipalities need stronger regulations to exclude industrial wind farms from agricultural lands, migratory corridors and tourist areas. It is also necessary to group wind farms in areas far from urban areas, and substantial indemnity should be requires to repair damage to the road system.

To make a good decision today, one needs to think 30 years ahead. The opposition to the wind farm project in our riding is mainly because of its size. Large industrial wind farms are rapidly becoming anti-environmental because they are symbols, not of respect for the environment but of resources’ exploitation and industrial domination over our territory.

What we propose is a local development run on a cooperative basis, instead of the usual economic exploitation where millions talk louder than common sense. Municipalities have to become partners - or better, responsible investors for future generations - by forcing government power monopolies to include local participation. Large wind farms should not be built near populated areas, but in Canada’s & Quebec’s North on the edges of big hydroelectrical reservoirs. The Green Party of Quebec adopted this proposal for its electoral platform.
Municipalities are starting to take the first step in the wind farms issue.

For more information, read this article from July 3rd 2007 (in French) : http://www.bas-saint-laurent.org/texte.asp?id=4860 and the links associated to it.

At the June 2006, public hearings for the office of environment of Quebec (BAPE) we made submissions that wind farms should be far away from cultivated lands, the river, migratory corridors and heavily populated areas. We wrote several articles for the newspapers. Eventually, the plan was postponed and even the tax shelter of 2006 was put back by another year. Our voice was heard; we are proud to say that we have contributed to changing attitudes towards wind farms in Quebec.

Skypower announced on the 5th of July that they have received all necessary permits from the government and that the construction of the first wind towers will begin in the next few weeks. To read the communication on the web, follow the link. (in french)

We would like to get in touch with other citizens, and members of the Green Party across Canada, with similar problems in their areas to exchange information and experience.

Written by Bernard Viau
viaub@sympatico.ca