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?”

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!

Beware the shield of hindsight – I may have a crystal ball

Hello

I have spent the past two days rather sadly investigating the possibility of selling my home, discussing things with a number of real estate agents. It makes me so sad to think I might have to move again, they all agree I have a lovely home. It seems like just a few weeks ago I was writing this article on another web-site about moving in. I thought my dreams had come alive, but now they are blowing away. 

I’ve continued to read through article after article on the web. I thought about adding links to them, but there are so many. I’ve put a couple of links on the front page to some central sites that will prove a good launch pad, including a UK government paper which provides some interesting info.

I finally have some idea now about what I want this web site to try and achieve and have revised the about page and added some aims.  

I have also written a second essay titled Beware the shield of hindsight – I may have a crystal ball which really sets out my concerns. You can read it here.

Tomorrow I am having a day off. Hopefully I’ll see my third child through the magic of Ultrasound, I’m not going to let anything spoil that.

Friday I’ll write to the council, and contact several newspapers about a fun competition – who said wind turbines had to be all essays and writing. A picture can say a thousand words, and I’m planing a “guess the title” competition called Green or Greedy! I’m offering a $100 prize too.  Hopefully launch it over the weekend, but I’ll release more details at the end of the week. 

Take Care, Steven