680 News: Councillors try to delay the building of wind turbines off the Scarborough Bluffs

by John Laforet
posted on April 20th, 2010 at 02:00:58 am

Councillors try to delay the building of wind turbines off the Scarborough Bluffs

Neil Kumar, 680News staff and Global News

TORONTO, Ont. – There is growing concern among Scarborough residents over the possibility of dozens of wind turbines being built off the Scarborough Bluffs.

The province has approved a study of the wind turbines, but city councillors are trying to delay the process.

Some councillors and area residents feel the turbines carry too many possible risks such as health concerns, damage to water and property value.

John Laforet, president of Wind Concerns Ontario, told 680News the debate at city hall on the issue of turbines was a disappointment. “It was council calling on the Provence to do something that the city of Toronto controls.  They own Toronto Hydro and they own the project. Residents are furious at the process and are really concerned about the negative environmental effects, the risks to human health and the risks to the environment that just come with a really bad planning process.”

According to Laforet, the turbines have been in the works for some time “The City of Toronto has been working on this since 2003.  It didn’t involve residents until 2008 when they put an add in the paper. So they were already on this for five years before they told a single citizen about it.”

Anthony Hains, CEO of Toronto Hydro said the Scarborough Bluffs is an idea location due to its proximity to the city and the water, while being a substantial distance from residents.

However, Laforet says, drinking water would definitely be effected by the turbines due to the disturbance that would occur to the lake beds.

Laforet added that it is not just health that is an issue but the substantial cost the turbines would come with. “The installation of the turbines would cost about a billion dollars and the biggest issue is that there isn’t enough wind there to pay it back so it wouldn’t be a money making endeavour.”

Mayor David Miller told Global News, Monday, that global studies have shown there are no health risks associated with turbines.

If the turbines are built at the Bluffs they could produce 500 megawatts of power, which would be enough energy to power most of the downtown core.

City council has rejected the request from residents to delay the process however they have confirmed that they will continue to find more ways of developing sources of green electricity.

Tags: Ainslie Motion, Executive Committee Wind Moratorium, John Laforet Candidate, John Laforet Ward 43, John Laforet Wind Concerns Ontario, Paul Ainslie Motion, Paul Ainslie Motion to Council, Toronto Hydro Anemometer