Posts Tagged ‘Offshore Wind Ontario’
THES Illegal Application Accepted by Bought and Paid For Ontario Liberal Government
This post was updated at the request of the Toronto Hydro Corporation Legal Department in light of hundreds of privacy violation they committed in the appendices of the illegal project evaluation. The links were swapped with links to the illegal application that don’t violate the privacy of hundreds of people – April 20th 2009
I need to start by saying it was not lost on me that the individual who prepared this report has ‘BS’ as his initials. While his name may not be Bull Shit – the report and process to date certainly have been and it would be a fitting name for Blair Shoniker’s (Environmental Planner at AECOM) version of fact contained in the Illegal Project Evaluation Report.
Public ‘Consultation’ begins again… Toronto Hydro style of course. You know how that goes by now, they lie, we get furious and respond with facts, our local politicians try to look busy doing other stuff and the bought and paid for Liberal government at Queen’s Park rubber stamps whatever crosses their desk, from an industry that has chowed on more rubber chicken at political dinners than anyone should have to tolerate.
Guildwood residents, myself included, were hopeful that our Provincial ‘representative’ would rise to the occasion and stand up for our community. I went to great lengths to try to work with her and her office to make that happen and in the end, it appears she sat back and stuck to the party line – the one the wind industry bought with it’s tens of thousands of dollars in kick backs to the Ontario Liberal Party. I say kick back because when someone receives a public subsidy and then turns around and donates the legal maximum to the political party that the Minister who made the decision represents – it is for all intents and purposes a kick back and an attempt at influence peddling.
Guildwood residents will not lay down. We’re in this fight and are continuing to find new support within the community as residents wake up to the rank process THES has led. Expect hundreds of residents to be pouring over the documents made available as part of this process for the next couple of days with more to come once it has been digested.
If you’re anyone who is remotely interested in this process, and would like any assistance at all in writing the Ministry to condemn this sham process and help us force a proper environmental review – contact me. john.laforet@laforet.ca is the best way of doing that. Unlike Joyce Mclean, David O’Brien, Chris Tyrrell or Jack Simpson at Toronto Hydro – I do actually answer my emails.
I’m including links to the documents:
Toronto Hydro Energy Services Illegal Application – Project Evaluation Report
Toronto Hydro Energy Services Illegal Application Appendices
3 Comments »Legislature Back In Session – Premier Absent and Plastic Surgery Issue Number One
Unbelievable. Yesterday, Ontario’s Legislature got back to work, after the Christmas break. For those of you who have been reading my posts regularly, you will have taken note of my strong opposition to Premier McGuinty and Minister Smitherman’s Harris-esque name calling and fabrication of their opponents arguments and intentions. Both McGuinty and Smitherman have promised to ‘force’ legislation through the House that will see communities and citizens lose their right to be part of the planning process for renewable energy in their communities. They said they’d introduce it this week.
Yesterday morning I was on AM 920 – a local radio station that serves Bruce, Grey Huron, Perth and Wellington counties speaking about the Green Energy Act and wind power in Ontario. I have to say there was not a single call during the 45 minute segment from anyone in favour of McGuinty’s legislation or the concept of forcing power projects on communities. Midwestern Ontario has seen more than it’s fair share of wind energy projects go through, some with great opposition locally. There are Liberal MPP’s who hold seats in these areas, who should feel uncomfortable with the proposed Green Energy Act as their constituents believe in their democratic rights and that local planning decisions are best left to local communities.
The ill-advised speech McGuinty gave in London over a week ago has dominated provincial news and kept the Province’s handling of the economy off the front burner for a while. Perhaps that is in large part the purpose of the fight McGuinty and Smitherman decided to pick. They’ve attacked a fundamental democratic principle – the right of dissent. We need to have a society where virtually anyone is free to question government and challenge corporations. That is how we ensure transparency between the two.
About two days after his attack on Ontarian’s democratic rights, Premier McGuinty instructed the Press Gallery that from now on he expects them to keep a distance of five feet from him. Political Scientists are musing this has to do with optics. It is thought that if the press are five feet back the cameras will not be catching him looking cornered by reporters asking economic questions that there just aren’t answers to (this part isn’t his fault).
Yesterday the legislature resumed and MPPs returned from the Christmas holidays for their first non emergency day of sitting since mid December. What was on the order paper? Bill 141 – an act respecting regulations for private cosmetic surgery clinics. The budget is going to be postponed until the second half (read end) of March, from it’s previously scheduled March 7th date and the Premier was no where to be found for Question Period.
He had conveniently scheduled a media event with the Prime Minister in Etobicoke Lakeshore to announce a joint investment in the Go Transit system. I’m all for Go Transit (you could even say I’m YIMBY on this topic) – in fact Guildwood has an excellent Go Transit/VIA station that I often make use of. But I also believe there is more at work here.
Consider this – a normally reasonable Premier, attacks Scarborough, while giving a speech in London and dismisses it’s legitimate concerns and promises to pass legislation that will ‘force’ communities to take renewable energy projects by stripping local municipalities of planning powers and denying residents a voice at the table. Then he asks reporters to observe an out-of-the-blue request for space that appears to have only become a problem after 12 years being scrummed as Opposition Leader and as Premier, then delays his budget by two weeks and skips the first Question Period since the legislature has returned from holidays.
I suspect all of this has more to do with the nearly 75 000 high paying jobs Ontario lost in the last month and considerably less to do with Renewable Energy, breathing space, Go Transit or legitimate budget delays. What the government needs to recognize though is – they can score a cheap shot off the backs of residents with valid concerns by trampling our democratic rights, but doing so will be a defining moment in Premier McGuinty’s Premiership. Not only is an attack on the fundamental rights of Ontarian’s a really bad idea at any point, but to do so during an economic crisis that seems to get worse with the day and when that should be the Premier’s only focus – is unforgiveable. Try convincing a laid off worker in Oshawa that picking a fight with the good people of Scarborough and ramming through anti-democratic legislation somehow helps them when they’re trying to pay their mortgage on the 55% of their former salary that EI benefits provide. Try convincing someone in Guildwood who needs to worry about the shape their pension fund or RRSP is in with all the hits the market has taken that attacking their right of dissent at a moment like this is the most important thing on your agenda. Good Luck.
Is there seriously a single person remotely involved in politics that believes the groups in place across Ontario the Premier and his Deputy are so intent on dismissing and attacking all at once – couldn’t or wouldn’t ‘re-tool’ for the next election and punish those who took away their rights? Perhaps there would not be a push in this direction had the Premier not lashed out at those who oppose his poorly thought out green energy strategy. Now – he risks galvanizing that anger and costing a number of good Liberal MPPs their day jobs. Is there a thinking person anywhere that thinks someone who sees the Premier to not be doing enough on the economy will understand why this side show fight he started was worth having?
The Premier needs to back away from this “NIMBY-ism” crap he made up.
If the Premier wants to get serious about Green Energy production in the province of Ontario and this current process isn’t just part of a dog and pony show designed to make the Premier look big and strong using Mike Harris’s playbook, than the Premier will get serious on the environment and develop some real standards for wind production in Ontario.
We need to follow international standards found virtually everywhere else in the world.
The British Columbia offshore wind project has to go through a Federal, Provincial and Haida environmental assessment – all of which are separate. European offshore projects go through full environmental assessments too, as do the offshore projects in the United States. Consider that none of these projects are in fresh water, and the proposed offshore project in Scarborough will stir up sediment and cause unknown impacts on Toronto’s drinking water (45% of which is collected down current and well within range of the project site). Here the best we get is a ‘proponent driven, self assessment’.
All projects of this size are a minimum of 5 kilometres offshore because half a dozen European countries recognize this is the minimum amount of space required for ‘nature conservation’ on shore. The average project is 12 kilometres offshore in recognition of this.
Ontario wind energy projects should also commit to following internationally recognized setbacks on land, and minimum wind viability thresholds to ensure future projects are properly sited and viable.
It is pretty clear to me that the Green Energy Act has literally nothing to do with the environment or energy production and very little to do with tangible job creation. It is part of a communications strategy that will give the Premier the opportunity to try to point to some ‘good news’ items as he moves forward into what will undoubtedly be a dark economic time for Ontario.
I strongly call on Premier McGuinty and Minister Smitherman to rethink stomping on democratic rights of Ontario’s municipalities and citizens simply as part of a communications strategy and instead use the opportunity presented by their mentioning of a green energy act to set some standards to ensure Ontario’s wind projects at least make sense on paper before we throw billions of dollars at them.
No Ontarian can seriously oppose a full environmental assessment on the impact of such a massive structure. If the Premier wanted to show leadership – he would demand we preserve nature and he would defend the democratic right to dissent from government. His inability to do so should send a chill through every activist’s spine – your cause could be the next one outlawed.
The Premier still has time to get is priorities straight and to walk away from the public policy disaster and aboutface to his well constructed image he is currently flirting with. Preserve nature, the environment and democratic principles – focus on the economy and leave this issue alone or vastly change your tact.
3 Comments »Just The Facts: Wind Power in Ontario and Europe
Below are a series of quotes from various sources I have come across during my research. I will summarize at the bottom.
The Role of the Public:
Greenpeace on Public Participation in Offshore Wind Project Decisions:
“Naturally, in a democratic society, public acceptance is vital to the ultimate success of any initiative.” Sea Wind Europe – Greenpeace
“Every wind farm will be required to seek some form of planning permission, and inherent in this process is affording the local community an opportunity to appraise and comment on a proposed development, or on a wider development plan for an area.” Sea Wind Europe – Greenpeace
European Wind Energy Association On Public Participation in Wind Project Decisions:
“Public acceptance is key for the future development of wind energy in Europe.” European Wind Energy Association
Dalton McGuinty on Public Participation:
“Taking a swipe at those who oppose wind turbines off the Scarborough Bluffs, Premier Dalton McGuinty is signalling he won’t hesitate to foist “green” energy projects on communities across Ontario.” Toronto Star - McGuinty vows to stop wind-farm NIMBYs
Bluewater Wind Power (Deleware Offshore Project) on Public Participation:
“We value open and continuing two-way communications. It is important to us that we know and understand each person’s concerns, questions and ideas. This understanding helps us to improve our responsiveness to the needs of the community, which in turn contributes to the success of our projects.” Bluewater Wind Values
NaiKun – BC Offshore Wind Project on Public Participation:
“NaiKun is committed to working with local communities to ensure that the project is designed and built in consideration of community interests.” NaiKun Community Consultation
Jim Gordon – President of Cape Wind (Cape Cod Wind Project):
“We at Cape Wind share our neighbors’ concerns for the environment—local, regional and global—and act accordingly. Our philosophy toward community relations is simple. Be honest and open, be a good neighbor, and safeguard our shared resources and environment.” Cape Wind – Being a Good Neighbour
Offshore Wind In General:
The Ontario Power Authority on Why Offshore Wind Isn’t In It’s 20 Year Power System Plan (June 2008):
“The Ontario Power Authority, the government agency that effectively determines which large power projects live or die, says offshore wind costs too much to be considered in its 20-year power system plan. It acknowledges that the technology provides more power than onshore projects, but not enough to justify the higher cost of building offshore wind farms.” (Toronto Star, June 30th 2008)
Earth Policy Institute on Scale of World Wide Offshore Wind Development (March 2008):
“Offshore wind capacity accounts for almost 1,170 megawatts worldwide, roughly 1.2 percent of the 94,100 megawatts of installed capacity at the end of 2007; while this is a small share of the total, it is up from less than 0.3 percent in 2000.” (Earth Policy Institute, March 4th 2008)
On Proper Siting of Wind Offshore Turbines:
German Wind Energy Association On Balancing Nature Conservation With Offshore Wind (Undated – 2008/9):
“Mainly for nature conservation reasons, most German offshore parks will be erected up to 20-60 km away from the coastline and in 20-40 meters deep waters. So far, experience of building such wind farms is very limited, hence higher risk attached make financing from banks more complicated.” (German Wind Energy Association – Future Trends: Offshore)
Bluewater (Deleware Wind Farm Developer) on Siting Their Project:
“Bluewater Wind’s plan to site turbines more than 11.5 nautical miles from shore removes them from close proximity to bird population fly zones. Nonetheless, expert ornithologists will conduct thorough avian studies before, during and after construction of the Delaware wind park.” – www.bluewater.com
Cape Wind – North America’s First Offshore Wind Project:
“The wind park will be sited on Horseshoe Shoal off the coast of Cape Cod. Hyannis will be over five miles away—and most of the Cape beaches will be further away.” Cape Wind Project Siting
Nai Kun (British Columbia) Offshore Wind Turbine Project On Siting:
“It is here, several kilometers from the nearest shore that NaiKun has secured a 550 square kilometer permit area within which we plan to build the first phase of our wind project, a 396 MW offshore wind farm, and future phases.” Nai Kun Project Site
Greenpeace Europe on ‘Buffer Zone for Offshore Wind’
“The 5km boundary was to reflect a general move by some countries to impose a coastal buffer zone for very large offshore wind farms on visual grounds.” Sea Wind Europe – Greenpeace
How Far Offshore Are Current 100 Megawatt Plus Wind Turbine Projects:
Denmark – Closest 5-15 KMs – Average 12 KMs (four projects)
Germany – Closest 100 KMs – Average 100 KMs (one project)
Netherlands – Closest 8-12 KMs – Average 16.5 KMs (two projects)
Sweden – Closest 10 KMs – Average 10 KMs (one project)
United Kingdom – Closest 7 KMs – Average 9 KMs (three projects)
Source: Offshore Wind Statistics January 2009 – European Wind Energy Association
Toronto Hydro’s Proposal – 2-4 KMs
Source: Toronto Hydro Energy Services, Stakeholder Anemometer Briefing
On Environmental Assessments:
Cape Wind – North America’s First Offshore Wind Turbine Project On Environmental Assessments:
“Cape Wind is committed to protecting the Cape Cod environment during construction and when the wind park is operating. Prior to receiving permits for construction, Cape Wind will complete comprehensive environmental studies for federal, state and local agencies, and provide opportunity for public comment.” Cape Wind Environmental Studies
Nai Kun Wind Development (British Columbia) On Environmental Assessments:
“NaiKun is strongly committed to the Environmental Assessment process. Through the process we intend to clearly identify any potential effects and propose appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures to ensure the project can proceed with no significant adverse effects.” Nai Kun Environmental Assessment [Nai Kun is subject to a Federal Environmental Assessment, a Provincial Environmental Assessment and a Haida Environmental Assessment]
Bluewater Wind on Environmental Assessments:
“We seek objective environmental reviews. Our experts conduct comprehensive scientific and environmental studies and analysis on all aspects of our wind park projects, and we welcome the input of all experts in the public discussion.” Bluewater Wind Values
Greenpeace On Environmental Assessments For Offshore Wind In Europe:
“It is noted that, when investigating a potential site, developers must consider in detail a wide range of constraints. Potential impacts, and their magnitude, are subject to in-depth assessment in both the Strategic Environmental Assessment and the Environmental Impact Assessment processes. The former is an assessment of government plans and policies carried out prior to their implementation, the latter an impact assessment carried out by a developer in support of an application for project consent.” Sea Wind Europe – Greenpeace
Dalton McGuinty’s Position On Wind:
Dalton McGuinty wants Ontario to be the only jurisdiction to install offshore wind projects without community acceptance and a process that allows for community participation in decision making.
Dalton McGuinty wants Ontario to place large offshore wind projects closer to shore than any other jurisdiction in the world.
Ontario is the only jurisdiction in the world that does not require an environmental assessment before construction of an offshore wind project. (The closest is a “proponent driven, self-assessment process”).
Dalton McGuinty supports a project that ignores the Ontario Power Authority’s 20 year power system plan and all available data on wind viability off the Scarborough Bluffs. The Canada Wind Atlas, the Helimax Report his Government commissioned, and the two waterfront turbines that act as book ends to the location (both failures).
Dalton McGuinty believes you’re NIMBY if you agree with Greenpeace Europe, the European Wind Energy Association, the German Wind Energy Association, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Deleware, Massachusetts or British Columbia all of whom support minimum setbacks from shore at least 60% farther than the Toronto Hydro Energy Service proposal.
Dalton McGuinty believes you’re NIMBY if you agree with The Ontario Power Authority, Helimax, the Canada Wind Atlas or the evidence from the Pickering Wind Generating Station and The Exhibition Wind Turbine data that suggest Toronto Hydro Energy Services project would not be feasible.
Dalton McGuinty believes you’re NIMBY if you want his government and his friends at Toronto Hydro Energy Services to carry out an environmental assessment like virtually all other offshore wind projects of this size in the world.
Dalton McGuinty believes you’re NIMBY if you expect Toronto Hydro Energy Services not to knowingly lie to the community, to hold a fair, open and honest consultation process and consider the community’s concerns instead of defending their project.
In truth – Dalton McGuinty doesn’t have an answer for why his government doesn’t have minimum setbacks, doesn’t require environmental assessments and why they refuse to accept science and instead of doing something about that – he bows to pressure from the wind industry and uses the politics of divison to create conflict among citizens in his Province.
Dalton McGuinty is wrong. He should be ashamed of himself and he should apologize to Guildwood residents for wrongfully singling them out in a poorly thought out speech in London. Our concerns are environmental and it would be great if the Premier could join Guildwood residents in taking the environment seriously.
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