Wind farm meeting expected to draw large crowd

File photo. Opposition is growing to that proposed industrial wind turbine farm in the Mattawa area. A meeting in that town this evening has drawn a list of high profile organizations and people who are preparing to oppose the idea.

File photo.

Opposition is growing to that proposed industrial wind turbine farm in the Mattawa area.

A meeting in that town this evening has drawn a list of high profile organizations and people who are preparing to oppose the idea.

Innergex Renewable Energy, the Quebec-based company proposing the industrial turbine system, held a public consultation meeting in Mattawa two weeks ago. It is a developer, owner and operator of run-of-river hydroelectric facilities, wind energy, and solar farms in North America.

But that just seemed to fuel more opposition.

"The Innergex-sponsored meeting of February 23rd regarding the Nodinosi 150 Megawatt Wind Farm did not allow a full and proper participation by our First Nations Representatives and Members," says a news release issued by the native group.

The reason for this new meeting, says the release, is to "set out the reasons why and what we intend to do to oppose the project and ensure the Province of Ontario and Innergex are listening."

See the Innergex website here: http://www.innergex.com/en

The Nodinosi Project, which translates into “spirit of the wind” in the Algonquin language, calls for the installation of 50-60 wind turbines on Crown Land in the Olrig and Mattawan Townships just North of the Mattawa River.

Those turbines, expected to range anywhere between 80-120 metres in height, are anticipated to have the capacity of 150 megawatts.

On their website, Innergex promises "the protection of our environment and in the responsible development of natural resources. We support a comprehensive and efficient regulatory and planning framework.

"We believe that social acceptance is the cornerstone of successful project development and that strong projects are built on long-term cooperation with stakeholders and by working in collaboration with First Nations and local communities."

The meeting tonight starts at 7 p.m. on the 2nd floor meeting room of the Mike Rodden Arena & Community Centre, on Hurdman Street.

Below is a list of scheduled speakers:

• CHIEF CLIFFORD BASTIEN JR. (MATTAWA/NORTH BAY ALGONQUIN FIRST NATION)

• CHIEF DAVE JOANISSE (ANTOINE FIRST NATION)

• CHIEF DOREEN DAVIS (SHABOT OBAADJIWAN)

• JAY ASPIN (MP NIPISSING-TIMISKAMING)

• VIC FEDELI (MPP NIPISSING)

• MAYOR PETER MURPHY (MATTAWAN TWP)

• MAYOR AL MCDONALD (CITY OF NORTH BAY)

• JOHN KELSALL (LAKE TALON CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION)

• MAYOR DEAN BACKER (TOWN OF MATTAWA)

• MAYOR ROBERT CORRIVEAU (PAPINEAU CAMERON TWP and CHAIR of the MBEDC)

• MAYOR WAYNE BROWN (CALVIN TWP)