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Wind farms face stiff opposition

File photo. A public meeting about wind turbine farms near Mattawa is expected to see lots of opposition tonight. The meeting goes from 6-8 p.m. at the Mattawa Senior Citizens Club on Poplar Street.

File photo.

A public meeting about wind turbine farms near Mattawa is expected to see lots of opposition tonight.

The meeting goes from 6-8 p.m. at the Mattawa Senior Citizens Club on Poplar Street.

The Lake Talon Conservation Association is one group that is opposed to the partnership between Innergex and the Algonquins.

It makes three conclusions.

  • The Lake Talon Conservation Association takes the position that this Industrial Wind Turbine Project should not proceed in this area. Simply put, it is the wrong project in the wrong place at the wrong time. LTCA believes, that for the broader public good, the Wild River Park and adjacent lands should be left in its current unspoiled condition.
  • LTCA understands that there are ongoing negotiations between the Province of Ontario and the Province of Quebec relating to the purchase of power. These negotiations could directly impact the need for wind power in the Province.
  • The Government of Ontario must allow for appropriate consultation, review and approval by the affected First Nations, local residents, local Municipalities, and user groups.

Meanwhile, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli launched a petition today in opposition to the two wind farm projects being proposed in Merrick and Mattawan Townships.

“Local First Nations, property owners and aviation & aerospace industry stakeholders have voiced concerns about these wind farm installations,” said Fedeli.  “On top of that, the Auditor General has also told us the subsidies paid to wind power developers in Ontario have literally cost us billions of dollars without actually increasing green energy.

"Wind power is simply unreliable, blows mostly at night when we don’t need power, creating a surplus Ontario then has to get rid of by paying Quebec and the United States to take it," Fedeli added.  "The Auditor General says the total cost of producing that exported power was about $2.6 billion more than the revenue Ontario received from exporting that power between 2006 and 2013."

The plan is to build 50 to 60 wind turbines, with an anticipated capacity of 150 megawatts of power.

The turbines would be located on crown land in the unorganized northern part of Nipissing District and Mattawan Township. 

Project developers will be on hand at tonight’s public meeting.


Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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