FROM:           CALEWT Steering Committee

DATE:             August 20, 2010

RE:                  Environmental Registry #011-0907

A new policy proposal from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources dated August 18, 2010 (posted on the Environmental Registry #011-0907) has just been announced.  The link is: http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEwNjg0&statusId=MTY2MTE0&language=en

Essentially, this proposed policy from the MNR is attempting to identify off shore areas in the Great Lakes that would be restricted from Industrial Wind Turbine development.  Pigeon Bay and Lake St. Clair should fall into this category, we hope!! 

YOUR INPUT IS ESSENTIAL and extremely important.  We only have 47 days to respond.  We ask all of you to click on the Registry and post your comments.  Your input will help offset any lobby efforts put forth by the wind industry.

The Steering Committee feel we are making SLOW but STEADY progress in getting Pigeon Bay designated as “off  limits” to wind turbines.  The proposed policy would establish criteria which would constrain future development on Crown Land (i.e. Great Lakes) such as:

• Navigational lanes
• Commercial fishing activity
• Sensitive environmental and ecological areas (Bird, Bat & Butterfly migration)
• Important recreational activities
• Cultural heritage activity
• Areas of Natural gas activity
• Areas of inland lakes not subject to proposed 5 km exclusion zone
• Other inland water lakes (i.e. Lake St. Clair)

The above proposal is just that – A PROPOSAL.  In order for this to become an Ontario Government approved Policy, and to ensure Pigeon Bay is excluded, we respectfully ask that you provide your valued input within the 47 day time period.  Please copy CALEWT at CALEWT@gmail.com so we can maintain a complete file for our records.

The Steering Committee continues to work on your behalf.  On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, Bruce Crozier arranged for several members of the Steering Committee to meet with the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources.  Since this is a new portfolio for the Minister, it was extremely beneficial to meet with her and her Special Policy Assistant in order to ensure they are fully aware of our issues/concerns.  The Honourable Minister Jeffrey strongly urged CALEWT to provide input into the proposed MNR policy.  She explained how vitally important the comments are so that everyone’s concerns are given due consideration.

We need your help…  Your comments could make the difference between our failure or success.  Please forward this request to all your “email contacts” and ask them to write too. 

We plan to have a general CALEWT meeting sometime in the fall.  In the meantime, please continue to check our website www.lakeeriewindturbines.com for updates. 

Further, the Globe and Mail conducted an interview with me on Wednesday, August 18^th and that article should be published in the next few weeks. 

 We hope you have had an enjoyable summer.  Thank you for your continued support.

Jim Krushelniski

Chairperson, CALEWT Steering Committee

“These proposed rules would ensure that our that our drinking water and the environment are protected,environmental and ecological areas are further protected,” said Hoy, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex.  “‪The Province is inviting comment on potential offshore areas and criteria that should be taken into consideration, which may constrain future development as part of the Crown land application process.”

“This is yet another clear sign that the government has listened to the residents of my riding and I encourage the public to continue making their views known by commenting on this proposal,” said Bruce Crozier, MPP for Essex. “Until these proposed rules are finalized, the Ministry has deferred the processing of any existing applications and will not be accepting new applications for the use of crown land offshore.”

The proposed consideration of rules was posted on August 18 by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) at www.ebr.gov.on.ca and is open for a 47-day public comment until October 4, 2010.  All comments will be considered as part of the decision-making process by MNR if submitted in writing or electronically, with EBR Registry number 011-0907.

The McGuinty government’s Green Energy Act placed a priority on expanding Ontario’s use of clean and renewable sources of energy, to help combat climate change and phase out coal.  Now, the regulatory and policy work is underway to provide further clarity to project proponents and the public to ensure the protection of the environment and ecological sustainability.

On June 25, 2010, the Ministry of Environment posted proposed changes on the Environmental Registry to provide clear, upfront provincial rules for offshore wind facilities, including a 5 km shoreline exclusion zone for offshore turbines, measured from the water’s edge of the Great Lakes and other inland lakes like Lake St. Clair.

Additional background information on Ontario’s Green Energy Act:  www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/energy/gea/.

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For more information:

Mike Ferguson                                                                                             Darcie Renaud

Office of Pat Hoy, MPP                                                                   Office of Bruce Crozier, MPP

(519) 351-0510                                                                                                      (519) 776-6420

FROM:  CALEWT Steering Committee

DATE:    June 26, 2010

RE:          Friday, June 25^th Ontario Government Announcements &

Press Releases regarding Off-Shore Wind Turbines

Below, please find two announcements:
                1.            Ontario Ministry of Environment Re:  Rules Proposed for Off-Shore Wind Turbines

                2.            M.P.P.’s Bruce Crozier and Pat Hoy’s Press Release

The CALEWT  Steering Committee are pleased  with both these announcements and view this a significant and positive FIRST STEP  Obviously, all the hard work of the CALEWT Steering Committee, our Experts , local Municipal Governments  and our general CALEWT membership have played a very significant  role in getting this first step accomplished.  We thank all for your support.  We ARE making progress!!

However, our job is not done!  Please note that this is only a proposal by the Provincial Government.  The proposed regulation has been posted on the Environmental Registry for 60 days for comment from the general public and industry.  We anticipate significant push-back from the wind turbine Industry.

ACTION:  The CALEWT Steering Committee has developed an Action Plan to not only ensure that the proposal becomes permanent, but also attempt to get the entire area of Pigeon Bay protected from wind turbines.  We will share this plan with all of you at our next general CALEWT meeting.

The Steering Committee feels strongly that the entire Pigeon Bay area must be protected due to the following:

1. This is a major Migratory Bird Path and it is essential to keep this fly-way open to the migrating birds, butterflies and bats.
2. Our Commercial Fishing Industry relies heavily on this area for their livelihood and therefore must be protected.
3. The Commercial lake freighter channels, as well as the Jiimaan and the Pelee Islander, use these lanes for commercial travel.  In addition, pleasure boating and sport fishing are major factors which need to be considered in our area.

We ask that you go to the Provinces Environmental Registry – www.ebr.gov.on.ca  .  The Registry # is 011-0089.  Go to the “Discussion Paper” for details and then register your concerns under comments.  Please send a copy to CALEWT@gmail.com for our records. 

Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,

Jim Krushelniski

Chairman, CALEWT Steering Committee

NO OFFSHORE TURBINES WITHIN 5KM AS

 PROVINCE SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT 

For June 25, 2010

LEAMINGTON—Local MPPs Pat Hoy and Bruce Crozier said they’re pleased with new rules banning turbines within 5 km of shore, as the Province announced a complete review of where, when and how the government makes Crown land available for off-shore wind projects.

“I encourage the public to make their views known. While we’re starting at the 5 km setback limit, we’re also looking at factors like ecological sensitivity, commercial fisheries and transportations routes, which could further restrict development in this area,” said Hoy, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex.  “‪Until these rules are final, I will continue to work to ensure that no offshore projects go forward in our community. Today’s announcement is a sign the government is moving in the right direction.”

“Today’s announcement is a clear sign that the government has been listening to the concerns of our residents,” said Bruce Crozier, MPP for Essex. “A 5 km setback eliminates any projects that close to shore, including all of the projects currently being proposed for Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair in and around my riding.  I join Pat in saying that, until these rules are final, I will continue to work to ensure that no offshore projects go forward in our community.”

The Ministry of Environment’s proposal, which includes the minimum 5 km shoreline exclusion zone to protect the environment, is posted on the Environmental Registry for public comment for 60 days, ending August 24, 2010.  (www.ebr.gov.on.ca ).

MNR based the proposed 5km minimum shoreline exclusion zone on safety requirements for drinking water quality, and protection of ecologically sensitive shoreline areas. The shoreline exclusion zone is comparable with those proposed by U.S. states that border the Great Lakes.

In addition, the Ministry of Natural Resources is also undertaking a review of Ontario’s process for making Crown land available for off-shore wind projects. The review will include consideration of where, when and how the government makes Crown land available for off-shore wind projects, and may result in additional areas being restricted from future development. No applications for use of offshore land will be considered until the review is complete.

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For more information:

Mike Ferguson                                                                                              Darcie Renaud

Office of Pat Hoy, MPP                                                                   Office of Bruce Crozier, MPP

(519) 351-0510                                                                                                      (519) 776-6420

Why we need your help,   click HERE.

For Pledge Form, click HERE.

• 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