Local citizen group concerned about wind farms in Innisfil

~ Resistance to proposed wind farms ~

Innisfil, ON – Tuesday, July 8, 2008: A local group of concerned citizens have banded together to fight the proposed Schneider Power Wind Turbines slated for Innisfil, along the Highway #400 corridor. The proposed plan would see the installation of five wind turbines, located on 200 acres of agricultural land in south Innisfil. Schneider’s is the first of several wind farm companies currently proposing to set up sites in the region.

“As a group, we support alternative energy and new technologies which would help protect the environment and meet future demands,” explain Mike Escheli, member of Innisfil Wind Watchers, a non-profit organization recently created to raise local awareness of the proposed Innisfil wind turbine sites. “But we believe the proposed site selection is inappropriate for several reasons. One, it is too close to residences and would create significant potential health risks and noise. Two, its proximity to the 400 Highway would, in our view, create a dangerous distraction in one of the most accident-prone stretches of this major transportation corridor. Three, it would interfere with current growth plans of Innisfil. Four, these wind power turbines would adversely impact existing businesses in the area – without creating significant tax revenue and much needed employment opportunities for the town. Five, it could create interference on telecommunications. And six, the proposed site is adjacent to a significant flood plain and environmentally sensitive area that has experienced serious flooding and erosion problems in the past few years due to the prevalence of severe storms and possible tornadoes. In our view, Innisfil is not an optimum area for wind energy as per Ontario government data.”

The local citizen group, called Innisfil Wind Watchers, has done extensive research on industrial wind power turbine sites and has concluded that the use of industrial wind turbines is a viable “green” form of energy suitable only to non-residential areas. The proposed wind turbines in Innisfil would directly impact a great number of residents, has no direct energy contribution to Innisfil residents and could adversely affect the long-term economy of the entire township in terms of possible loss of tax revenues.

 “Innisfil’s current town plan calls for the lands along the Highway #400 corridor to be developed for industrial and commercial use,” explains Mike Escheli. “Tying up those 200 acres of prime real estate for the proposed 25 to 30 year lease period would cut off a rich revenue base for all Innisfil residents.  This, in turn, would leave much of the rising financial burden to be carried by existing Innisfil residences and businesses.”

Research further shows that there are some serious human health issues associated with industrial wind turbines. Of primary concern is the low-frequency noise generated by the turning of the turbines themselves. This produces a constant low-level hum that can be heard at any time of the day or night. The “flickering”, “strobe” or “shadow” effect of the blades has been deemed detrimental to human health as well. Both of these concerns have been well documented in global scientific publications.

In the case of Innisfil, the “flickering” effect will have the added complication of being located so close to the Highway #400, potentially interfering with the regular traffic flow of this major commuter artery.

Environment is another significant area of concern with the proposed wind turbine site. The proposed turbines are 120 metres (400 feet) high, with blades that are 41 metres (134 feet) in length and large amounts of concrete and steel as foundations. The construction of such structures, combined with the noise and shadow flicker, could have a direct impact on local habitat including insects, bats, birds, owls, hawks, deer and a number of other species that populate the area, which is very rich and diverse due the presence of a large organic apple orchard and the adjacent Innisfil creek. This requires extensive and site-specific research and the group is concerned that an objective third party professional study is essential before moving forward with such a project which would leave such a long-term footprint in Innisfil.

Finally, the group is of the opinion that better overall strategic planning is needed in the province of Ontario and in Simcoe County regarding the location of wind power plants.

For further information, visit the Innisfil Wind Watchers web site at: www.innisfilwindwatchers.org or contact Gaye Trombley at (705) 458-9902.