Disclosure of Wind Energy Proposals

Good Morning.

I have had the following comment / question posted on the comments board.

“Since you have indicated that you talked to some real estate agents in the eventuality of putting your house on the market, I wonder whether or not the seller has to disclose the possibility of the presence of a Windmill Farm nearby in the near future. If so, it would already have an impact on the saleability of the house. What would be the percentage of the decrease? And have the real estate agents noticed an increase of people wanting to leave the area?”

Letter’s to the Editor.

Hello All,

Here are a couple of letters I have sent to local Prince Edward County newspapers this Week. There were a few minor variations between each letter!

 

Dear Editor

I attended the lively Wind Energy information meeting on Wednesday 20th August kindly hosted by Mayor Finnegan which he said will be the first of many. Can I use this well read newspaper to thank “Jim Vanden Hoek,”the Mayor of Frontenac Islands (including Wolfe Island) for painting such a contrasting picture between there and the successful agricultural and creative rural economy of PEC. Also thankyou for showing us the misty aerial pictures that made Wolfe Island look a somewhat bleak, desolate and baron place. I came away with the distinct impression that Hoek gave his support for enormous 2.3 MW wind-turbines because his local economy had nothing left, that the 8 jobs for the community the project would bring would not be at the risk of anything else – that for the 3000 or so summer residents it was just tough luck if they were affected. I cannot recall Hoek making any mention of Green intention or conscious.

By-Law 900-2002, protecting us against unusual noise, vibration, lights

Hello All

I decided use a question during a Public Meeting on 20th August 2008 featuring presentations about wind energy, to draw attention to the County of Prince Edward  By-Law 900 – 2002. It protects residents and businesses on PEC from unusual noises, vibration and lighting;  I just don’t see any reason in wasting huge amounts of time and money and risking the reputation of PEC, social division if this by-law would make PEC a non starter for large scale on-land industrial wind mining projects.

 

No need to comment....! (mayor Finnegan right)

 

So will the council change the by law? I pose this conundrum to you all…

“By-Law protects rural tranquility”

Good Morning from “Bethel (The house of God!) Road.” 

If you live on or have visited the “artistic haven” of Prince Edward County I am sure that you value the kind of peace and tranquility that it offers, such as this misty rural scene and big sky, that I photographed near my Sophiasburgh home, Ontario, last week.

 

"A Big Sky on Bethel Road"

 

A page on the PEC municipality website ¹ features a 2008 Queens University report. ² This highlights the beautiful un-commercialized “County” scenery as an important part of the “Place Factor” the driving force behind the creative rural economy that has driven PEC to success over recent years, adding an estimated $65million (2006)in additional annual revenue to the local economy  (worth over $5000 per household!)

Alongside traditional agriculture, accolades such as Ontario’s Gastronomic Capital 2008 ³ peace and tranquility certainly appear to be a key part of a very valuable rural economy, one worth protecting. Fortunately for PEC residents, a local by-law 900-2002 ⁴  does just that. It protects homes from unusual annoying noises, flashing or twinkling lights and ground vibration.

Power our lives or recharge our batteries?

Hello everyone.

If you love Prince Edward County , or to that end any unspoilt rural location because of the tranquility that can be found in scenes like these, photographed by myself a few days ago, then please feel uneasy. Within 18-months these views may have gone for the rest of our lives, and rural landscapes everywhere are under threat.

"Rural Harmony"

 

These images are all taken from a 50 m stretch of Bethel Road, just about 10 minutes drive from Picton or Bloomfield and illustrate the kind of landscape that will no longer be able to enjoyed for it’s peace and quiet because of the dramatic changes that will happen if the proposed industrial wind mine (farm) developments like the Byran Farm proposal by Skypower that will plant about 66 nearly 400′ high turbines over 12000 acres, including right here along Bethel Road.

In all honesty if the council use 40m setbacks as I was advised in a telephone call then just driving along these roads would present additional life threatening risk, especially in winter time when ice can be thrown off the blades at high speed towards the ground.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m 100% behind renewable energy, conservation, putting back more than I take out. It’s just that you have to be careful that while looking for the “green” solution you don’t destroy the ability to renew your own human energy by destroying areas such as these that attract people to the countryside either to live or to visit.

Even the mist won’t hide the effects on the landscape, although with no wind thankfully you may still get some quiet!

If, like me, you do feel concerned about the inappropriate placement of industrial wind turbines the please leave me a comment, check out the questions I have, and / or write to as many people as possible and let then know what you think. Links to councillors, government and energy companies are now here!