Province won’t wait for federal study to erect Hermanville wind turbines
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By Jonathan Charlton
jonathan@peicanada.com
A recently announced Health Canada study into alleged health effects of wind turbines won’t impact the construction of 10 wind turbines near Hermanville.
Ron Estabrooks of the PEI Energy Corporation said construction of the turbines wouldn’t wait for the study, due to be published in 2014. The turbines are slated to be commissioned in 2013.
This spring many Eastern Kings residents publicly and passionately voiced their concerns over the turbines, and while experts are somewhat divided the prevailing consensus is that there’s little to fear.
Mr Estabrooks said he didn’t know what specific concerns the Eastern Kings residents had, but noted there are regulations the project has to follow.
“For example the planning act requires that you have setback distances of four times the height of the turbine. And those are to mitigate things such as noise. There are other things you have to mitigate against, such as shadow flicker.”
An environmental assessment, which mandates public meetings, is underway, he said.
A public meeting will be held to present plans for the Hermanville wind turbine to the community Tuesday, July 24 at St Margaret’s Hall from 7-9pm. Hermanville is a small community north of Souris.
“This is a community meeting to introduce the project and get people’s views on what they think of it,” Mr Estabrooks said.
The corporation will attend the meeting and Finance and Municipal Affairs Minister Wes Sheridan will chair. There will be a presentation from the Northeast Community Alliance about their possible involvement and at least one more meeting will be held at a later date.
Mr Estabrooks said community stakeholders are considered to be landowners with land in the area of the actual turbines and residents within the limits of Hermanville.
The 30 megawatt farm will consist of 10 three megawatt turbines similar to the ones used at East Point.
How the turbines will be divided between Crown and private land has yet to be determined, Mr Estabrooks said.
“A lot of it has to do with who we have signed up for the project.”
A private meeting with landowners was held last night.
Minister Sheridan was unavailable for comment.
The Hermanville I remember has no residents and is scrub woodland and blueberry fields - would be an ideal site for turbines FAR from any homes. It is odd to me that people are fretting about wind turbine effects on the human body when the PEI populace is breathing pesticides with every breath throughout the summer and fall (Environment Canada study found pesticides in the air even in remote woodlands and seaside harbours). Not to mention the terrible junk food diet of most Island-dwellers (look in shopping carts at the checkout!), lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, high cancer and cardiovascular occurrences - PEOPLE - there are far worse things to worry about than this. Get a clue and raise a stink about these other travesties!
Besides, this will help PEI become more energy self-sufficient and get off the cable link to NB which seems to be leaking a lot - don't be conned - this wind turbine worry is a tempest in a teapot! Would you prefer Tarsands oil piped to Maritime Electric's plant in Charlottetown?