KAWARTHA LAKES-Councillors have rejected a motion to consider becoming a “willing host” for renewable energy projects.
Councillor Pat Warren brought the motion forward at Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.
The municipality says it has not been a “willing host” of renewable energy projects for many years. However, that didn’t stop the province from forcing a number of wind and solar projects through the municipality over the years.
Late last year, the provincial government made moves to rejuvenate the issue of renewable energy. In November, the government announced it is developing a program to allow corporations to buy renewable power from new clean electricity generators. On August 28th the Ontario government launched what it called the largest competitive energy procurement in the province’s history, focused on generating affordable electricity for families and businesses. This builds on the province’s plan to procure up to 5,000 megawatts (MW) of energy through a series of procurements to help meet the “growing demand for clean and reliable energy”.
The government announced a plan of action for more affordable energy, supporting Ontario’s diverse supply mix including nuclear, hydroelectric, renewables, natural gas, and biomass. The Second Long-Term Procurement (LT2) will plan future energy initiatives in communities that provide consent while protecting prime agricultural areas, including:
- Requiring energy project developers to receive municipal support resolutions to ensure local support and consent for new projects.
- Prohibiting all projects in specialty crop areas and ground-mounted solar in prime agricultural areas to prevent solar farms.
- Incentivizing projects located in northern Ontario and those which avoid prime agricultural areas, along with a plan to unlock Crown Lands for renewable energy.
- Incentivizing economic opportunities for projects with or by Indigenous communities on whose traditional territory the projects are proposed.
- Requiring Agricultural Impact Assessments for projects that are permitted on all prime agricultural areas.
“With energy demand growing rapidly, our government is stepping up by advancing our largest energy procurement in our history. Our ‘all-of-the-above’ energy resource approach will expand access to affordable electricity to families and businesses across Ontario while opposing the regressive carbon tax,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “Unlike the former government who imposed energy projects on unwilling communities, we are putting municipalities in the driver’s seat as we expand energy generation. We are delivering more affordable and reliable energy while protecting prime agricultural areas.”
In light of this announcement, Warren’s motion asked council to consider becoming a willing host and for staff to look into the changes to the Provincial Renewable Energy Program and procurement of new projects and produce a report that includes information and options for council to consider.
“By supporting this memo the City of Kawartha Lakes can be prepared for the new energy initiatives,” Warren told councillors. ” Each development will need a resolution from council so we will have a say to where they are placed or it will sound like we can refuse also. We will have to see what the regulations say. We are only asking for a report back so we can be prepared and will be doing our due diligence.”
Councillor Tracy Richardson lives in Pontypool where there are three wind turbine projects and 14 turbines.
She spoke emotionally about the impact of the wind turbines in her constituency and near her home and business.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t pipe in based on my own personal impact that I have experienced in the last ten years.” said Richardson “Right now I’ve got the hair standing up on the back of my neck because Manvers has the infrastructure when it comes to turbines but I can tell you right now we don’t want any more turbines in our area”
Richardson says 157 municipalities have said they are not willing hosts and nothing has changed with the new announcement when it comes to noise limits or setbacks. She urged councillors to reach out and talk to people who have been impacted by wind and solar farms in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
“I’m within 585m at my house and 350m at my office and I am telling you right now I have to sleep with a fan in my room every night because we have sleep disturbances. There are rooms in my house for two to three hours a day that you can’t be in because of the flicker, you are in a strobe light and we have farms surrounded and we can’t work for hours a day because of the vortex created by these turbines,” said Richardson, her voice quivering with emotion. “I really want council to take a hard look when it comes to wind turbines as an option. Being a “willing host” means we are ready and eager to do something and not willing means we are reluctant and right now I am super reluctant.”
Councillor Joyce echoed that saying he has always been against wind turbines. “I can’t support this, I am completely against wind turbines.”
Councillor Ashmore expressed concern about solar energy.
“Where I am the solar implications are devastation of the land. I live between two solar farms and they have changed hands about four times and are now owned by a California company. The topsoil that was scraped off that land is phenomenal, just the destruction.”
Councillor Warren’s motion did not pass with only she and Councillor Perry voting in favour. The memo could be brought up again at a regular council meting on September 24th.
