In 2006, CALEWT was formed by a group of concerned residents of Essex County in reaction to a proposal to place 119 industrial wind turbines in Pigeon Bay, in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. Our position has always been that a full, non-biased/impartial environmental assessment must be completed before consideration is given to any wind project proposal.

We thought we were successful in convincing the Ontario Government Ministries that this portion of Lake Erie was environmentally too sensitive to proceed without proper due diligence.  As a result, a moratorium was announced in October of 2006.

That moratorium was lifted in 2008, for reasons unknown to us.

Since that time, we have provided Municipal officials, Provincial and Federal Ministers relevant information, as well as experts, all of which warned that these man made structures could have a significant adverse affect on Pigeon Bay.  We accumulated a tremendous amount of scientific evidence, which was provided to the Ontario Ministers of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as various Federal Departments responsible for our region of the Great Lakes.

Our ultimate goal was to have Pigeon Bay designated as an area that would be excluded from consideration for industrial wind development. We believe that independent, non-biased, scientific studies would confirm our view that these structures could have a detrimental effect on water quality, bird migration routes, natural fish habitats, and tourism.

This recent announcement from the Ontario Government seems to indicate that their evaluations have led them to the same conclusion, in that detailed studies must be completed before wind development is allowed on any Ontario fresh water bodies.

We applaud this decision, and hope that this Government, or the others to follow, will live up to this commitment.

CALEWT will be monitoring future developments relating to off shore wind policy, to ensure that our natural water resource is properly protected for future generations to enjoy.

We would like to thank all those involved for their support over the years.  Your views, comments and contributions have made a significant impact in protecting one of our most precious resources – fresh water.

• The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) announced approval of 184 large scale renewable energy projects (out of 930 applications) for a total of 2,500 mw of electricity.

• These approved projects must obtain all required permits (MOE, MNR, etc.) and be operational by the end of 2014.  These projects will allow the closure of the coal-fired electrical generation plants and theoretically maintain the current electrical grid at capacity.

• SouthPoint Wind (SPW) was not granted a contract by OPA for any of their proposals.  (Phase 1 of 15 – Phase II of 700).

• However, only the original fifteen (5 at each of 3 sites in Pigeon Bay or Phase I) are identified on a list of “potential” projects, along with several hundred other projects from other areas across the Province. 

• This “potential” list of projects (including SPW’s 3 Pigeon Bay sites) will now be put through an “Economic Connection Test” (ECT).  This test will identify transmission or distribution system expansion projects that would be required to support additional projects.  They must meet certain economic requirements before they would be considered for approval.  Simply put, the electrical grid in our region would have to be expanded for additional capacity before more projects could be added, OR one of the 184 approved projects fails to come on-line for whatever reason. 

• Bottom line – there still may be an opportunity for SPW or some other proponent to go forward with an application for turbines placed in Pigeon Bay sometime in the future.

• The Good News:     CALEWT’s efforts to place this issue before the public

 resulted in a huge ground swell response from our

supporters.  The decision makers in Toronto must have

heard our concerns.

• The Bad News:       SPW have not stated that they are going to withdraw their

                                    application, nor has our Provincial Government put a

 moratorium on Pigeon Bay.

• The Steering Committee, therefore, feels strongly that our fight is not over!!  We must continue to work hard on the strategy which was shared with you back in February.

• In summary, we have the support of all Municipalities, County Council, ERCA, our MPP’s and MP’s.  In particular, Bruce Crozier and Pat Hoy have been highly instrumental in championing our cause at Queen’s Park. 

• The CALEWT Steering Committee have been successful in getting Municipal financial support towards ERCA heading up a scientific review, which will hopefully prove “Why Industrial Wind Turbines should not be placed in Pigeon Bay”.

• The Federal Government is clearly on our side.

• In addition, we have retained an excellent Environmental Legal Firm who is prepared to represent CALEWT should we ever have to take this issue to the courts.

• The Community Awareness Team has been selling signs at $25 each to raise funds for our legal costs.  They have done an outstanding job and are to be commended for their hard work.  We need to sell more signs and get the message out – NO WIND TURBINES IN OUR LAKE!

• CALEWT has been extremely effective at ensuring that these proposals have not been successful to date.  It should be noted, the Steering Committee has worked a tremendous number of hours.  They have also made significant personal financial contributions towards our cause.  They should be congratulated for their outstanding efforts and success to date.

A general CALEWT meeting is scheduled for April 22^nd at the Lakeside Pavilion at 7:00 p.m.  We will provide ample time for comments/questions.  Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. 

It has been an extremely busy week.  We will keep you updated if anything significant happens before the 22^nd.  Thank you for your continued support.

 Jim Krushelniski     

Chair, CALEWT Steering Committee

To read more click HERE.

Pigeon Bay site of the proposed Wind Farm is part of the Western Lake Erie Basin a designated “Important Bird Area (IBA)”.  Pigeon Bay is part of the following special designations:  

• The Pelee Archipelago

IBA Criteria: Globally Significant; Continentally Significant; Nationally Significant for the following: Water/Seabird, Wading Birds.

Conservation Status: Nature Reserve (provincial)

• Pelee Island Natural Areas

IBA Criteria: Globally Significant: Migratory Landbird Concentrations, Nationally Significant: Threatened Species

Conservation Status: Conservation Area (provincial), Nature Reserve (provincial)

• Point Pelee

IBA Criteria: Globally Significant: Waterfowl Concentrations, Migratory Landbird Concentrations: Nationally Significant: Threatened Species.

Conservation Status:  International Monarch Butterfly Reserve, National Park, Ramsar Site (Wetland of International Significance).

All areas listed are exposed to potential or ongoing threats from erosion, industrial pollution, introduced species, recreation, tourism, urban and industrial development.

               Environmental Protection Act

               Environmental Assessment Act

               Environmental Bill of Rights

               Planning Act

               Policies and Regulations of MNR

• Work permits and/or approval to occupy Crown Land, as well as permits under the Endangered Species Act (2007), are required by MNR.

• Prior to submitting an application for Renewable Energy Approval (REA), the applicant must:

1)    Describe project and location.

2)    Assess and mitigate potential environmental effects during:    

-         Construction

-         Operation

-         Decommissioning

3)     Engage the public, municipalities, and aboriginal communities.

4)    Demonstrate how the project will meet required MOE setbacks.

5)    Prepare a report of the findings of any environmental studies, construction plans, operation and decommissioning of project.

• Applicant must hold at least two (2) effective community consultation meetings:

• One at start of Project Planning.
• 60 days before REA application is made, the applicant must make available any studies relating to the project.

• Second consultation occurs when all information has been gathered for REA application (to be shared with all stakeholders).

• Municipal consultation is mandatory 90 days before submitting REA:

• Municipal feedback required for Municipal Services and infastructure (i.e. road access), rehabilitation of areas damaged during construction, emergency management procedures, etc.

• Consultation with Aboriginal Communities Mandatory.

Upon Submission of REA 

• Once application for REA is submitted, a “notice of proposal” is posted on the Environmental Registry (by MOE) for public review and comment.

• Final decision for approval rests with Director of MOE.

• Decision posted on Environmental Registry.

• Concerned Parties must request an appeal to the Environmental Review Tribunal within 15 days of decision notification.

• There are two (2) grounds for appeal: 

1.  Health

2.  Irreversible damage to Environment

• Tribunal must make decision within 6 months.

• If no decision made within 6 months, the Director’s decision is confirmed.

• Provincial Court is an option of last resort (error of law committed).

FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Entirely separate from the Provincial requirement, the applicant must meet requirements of various Federal Agencies:

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
• RCMP
• Transport Canada 
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada 
• Environment Canada
• Parks Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Canadian Environmental Agency (coordinating body)

Municipalities need to do hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of studies to fight 715 wind turbines proposed for the two lakes, Gord Meuser, a member of Citizens Against Lake Erie Wind Turbines, told Leamington council Monday.

“This artificial forest pounded into our bay is just wrong,” Meuser said.

He said the sad part is the odds are stacked against the citizens and municipalities under the new act.

“The onus is now on us.”

Meuser was focused just on 165 offshore turbines proposed for Pigeon Bay south of Leamington and Kingsville in three offshore wind farms of 55 turbines each.

But SouthPoint Wind is proposing a total of 715 turbines for Lake Erie south of Chatham-Kent and Essex County and for Lake St. Clair north of Lakeshore.

The Essex Region Conservation Authority is working with local municipalities to see what studies should be done and how much that could cost.

The conservation authority could know the cost within a few days and will meet with municipal representatives again.

Tracey Pillon-Abbs, manager of planning services for Leamington, told council depending on the number of municipalities involved in the cost sharing, the estimated cost could be $5,000 to $10,000 per municipality.

SouthPoint Wind has not applied to the province for the offshore wind turbines. It has scheduled a series of public meetings for March 27 and has a draft application on its website.

Coun. Rick Atkin said he hoped the thinking that the province is going to ram the offshore wind farms on municipalities is wrong.

Leamington Deputy Mayor Rob Schmidt said adequate studies have not been done and the same concerns that at one time saw the province place a moratorium on offshore wind farms are still valid now.

The ban that had been put in place after reaction to SouthPoint Wind’s proposal for 15 offshore turbines in 2006 was lifted in 2008.

Coun. John Paterson said he hoped municipalities could stop the access to the power grid on land. “It’s our natural resource. We’re a waterfront community. Why would we want this destroyed by a wind farm,” Paterson said.

Council agreed with a motion by Schmidt to ask staff to draft a resolution to send to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to research other options to control green energy projects since it has no power under the Green Energy Act. Schmidt doesn’t want inappropriate uses and conflicts with neighbours over wind turbines and solar projects.

When talking offshore turbines, Meuser said some people assume the 715 turbines is some sort of joke.

But he said there will be offshore turbines in the lakes if research isn’t done to prove there could be negative impacts.

He urged residents to show up for a March 27 meeting in Leamington at the Princess Centre. SouthPoint Wind is holding public meetings across Essex County that day including one at the Lakeside Park pavilion in Kingsville from noon to 2 p.m.

For more information see www.southpointwind.com.

Other hour-long meetings March 27 include an 8:30 a.m. meeting at the Puce Sports and Leisure Centre, a 6 p.m. meeting at the Harrow arena and a 7:30 p.m. meeting at the Amherstburg Recreation Centre.

A Leamington-based company that is proposing to put 700 wind turbines in lakes Erie and St. Clair has hired a high-profile Michigan public relations strategist and former spokesman for the mayor of Detroit.

Daniel Cherrin, who was chief communications officer under former Detroit mayor Ken Cockrel Jr., said Thursday he was hired last week by SouthPoint Wind to speak on its behalf about the controversial project.

“I think there’s a lot of emotions on both sides. … And it’s a very small community and a lot people are friends,” he said.

But the company intends to work with the affected communities and will hold more public meetings after the ones that it has scheduled for March 27, Cherrin said.

SouthPoint is waiting to see the Ministry of Environment’s guidelines for offshore wind turbines before submitting an application under Ontario’s new Green Energy Act, he said. “But they’ll consult with the public and business community before they submit any application.”

Cherrin, a lawyer who also has a public relations firm, said he approached SouthPoint because he is interested in issues relating to the environment and harnessing the potential of the Great Lakes. He said is still getting up to speed on the project, for which SouthPoint has put together a 120-page draft proposal, and expects to be involved in the March 27 public meetings and beyond.

Cherrin, who named his public relations firm North Coast Strategies because of its Michigan location at the centre of the Great Lakes, is also a lawyer — though he is not acting in that capacity for SouthPoint.

From September 2008 to May 2009 he was chief of communications for Cockrel Jr. following the tumultuous tenure of disgraced mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who left office after pleading guilty to criminal charges related to a text messaging scandal.

Cherrin was also lead federal lobbiest for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce in its efforts to keep commercial traffic following across the Canada-U.S. border after 9-11. His firm has worked with the University of Windsor to increase its profile in Michigan and, in the past, for the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Corporation.

He steps into a public relations breach for SouthPoint, which is owned by the Liovas family that has been involved in construction and development in Essex County for many years. The wind company has been mum since revealing its latest proposal on its website last month.

The majority of the 700 turbines for the 1,400-megawatt project would be in Lake Erie south of Essex County and Chatham-Kent.

Leamington Mayor John Adams and Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos told a breakfast meeting of the Leamington and District Chamber of Commerce Thursday that their towns are joining forces to make their case against the project. Essex County council will be asked to take a position and put money into challenging the SouthPoint application, said Santos, who is also county warden.

He criticized SouthPoint for not being more forthcoming.

“They’re really being cautious in what access the public has to them and that’s a real concern,” Santos said. The town asked the company to move its March 27 public meeting in Kingsville from a room at the arena to the Lakeside Park Pavilion to accommodate more people, he said.