Posts Tagged ‘Ward 43’
A Sunrise Ceremony at the Scarborough Bluffs with David Grey Eagle and Toronto Wind Action
I was honoured to join with a number of Guildwood residents, the leaders of Toronto Wind Action and David Grey Eagle for a sunrise ceremony to honour the Scarborough Bluffs – a part of my community that Guildwood residents carry in our hearts, and will continue fighting to protect.
For those of us who got out of bed on a Sunday morning, and made our way to the Guild Inn for 5:30 am to be witness and participate it’s something we will surely never forget. As I waited for the group to arrive, I wandered around the Guild Inn park and saw two rabbits having breakfast, and was surrounded by the sounds of birds singing. There wasn’t any human generated noise to be heard.
David Grey Eagle shared an important message that day and in the video below, one about protecting nature, our drinking water and our rights – all things under siege by our government.
We must continue to stand together and stand up to protect all that we hold dear, and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. The impacted wildlife that live in the Scarborough Bluffs, the birds along our lakefront and the fish within it’s waters need voices and need to be protected from the irresponsible proposal Toronto Hydro has endorsed and the Provincial Government and our local representatives appear willing to accept.
Perhaps the most significant pledge I’ve made as the only Ward 43 resident running for Toronto City Council is my firm commitment to protect the Scarborough Bluffs, and the Lake from Toronto Hydro’s proposal and work with the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority to give Guildwood residents and wildlife restored access to natural beaches and a waterfront worthy of such a special place.
Below is a video that shows some of the most important messages David Grey Eagle shared with us that day.
Scarborough Mirror: New setbacks for offshore wind projects may quash wind farm proposal
Scarborough Mirror: New setbacks for offshore wind projects may quash wind farm proposal
Danielle Milley
Recently released provincial setbacks for offshore wind projects could quash Toronto Hydro’s wind farm proposal, but Guildwood residents aren’t giving up their fight.
In an announcement Friday, June 25, the provincial government released proposed regulations for offshore wind projects that would require a minimum setback of five kilometres from the shoreline.
The Toronto Hydro project has always been talked about as being two to four kilometres offshore as Lake Ontario drops off around the five kilometre mark, which could substantially increase the cost of the project.
But, John Laforet doesn’t believe these regulations would stop turbines from being erected off the Scarborough Bluffs.
“I have absolutely no faith that the provincial proposed regulations will stop the Toronto Hydro project,” he said.
“Toronto Hydro is not saying this project is dead.”
Laforet is the president of Wind Concerns Ontario, a Guildwood resident and a candidate for municipal council in Scarborough East.
He believes the proposals are just a way of placating a community where many residents are upset about the possibility of a wind farm of up to 60 turbines that would stretch from Ajax to the Leslie Street Spit.
Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, had been in discussion with Toronto Hydro about the proposed regulations.
“From what I’ve heard from Toronto Hydro this does put the project at risk,” he said.
Toronto Hydro said Monday it is still reviewing the regulations and wouldn’t have a comment before The Mirror’s press deadline.
On June 10, in an interview during a press tour to see the anemometer, which is currently testing wind speeds in the lake, Joyce McLean of Toronto Hydro said she believed if the project went ahead it would conform to any provincial standards.
“We’re not concerned because we believe what we’re proposing is a reasonable distance from shore,” she said.
Duguid said the five kilometres setback is in line with other North American jurisdictions.
“We looked at a number of different priorities,” he said. “We wanted something that was in synch with other jurisdictions in the Great Lakes.”
Ohio, New York and Michigan all have a five kilometre setback in place, he said.
As well, Duguid said the government looked at the environmental and ecological impacts of allowing wind turbines closer to shore.
“There can be impacts to drinking water with stirring up the lake bed,” he said.
Sherri Lange thinks that should be a concern for putting a turbine anywhere in bodies of water used as drinking water.
“We’re very firm that we don’t want turbines in the lake,” she said.
Lange is the founding director of Toronto Wind Action.
“We’re disappointed the minute someone has a setback announcement, it means they’re willing to put turbines in the lake and that’s not acceptable,” she said.
Just like Laforet she doesn’t believe this announcement kills Toronto Hydro’s project either.
“There’s no white flag that I can sense,” Lange said. “Our battles with Toronto Hydro are certainly not over.”
Duguid thought these regulations would ease worries of Ontario’s residents, especially those in Guildwood, but it seems it hasn’t provided that reassurance.
“This should be viewed as a positive step forward in terms of bringing stability in the process of offshore wind,” he said.
He did admit applications could be approved that don’t conform with the regulations.
“I’m not positive that there wouldn’t be opportunities to make exceptions,” Duguid said.
In addition to the setback, another proposed rule would require turbine developers to complete a comprehensive application process. This would include addressing potential impacts to endangered and threatened species and their habitat, significant wildlife habitats, users of Crown land, flooding and erosion.
At the same time, the Ministry of Natural Resources is undertaking a review of Ontario’s current process for making Crown land available for off-shore wind projects. This review will include consideration of where, when and how the government makes Crown land available. The area in Lake Ontario is Crown land.
The province is seeking comments on the proposals for the next 60 days, accessible through the province’s environmental registry (registry number 011-0089). Public and industry consultation sessions will also be held starting in the fall.
Dates and locations will be available soon at www.ontario.ca
Comments OffToronto Star: Ontario proposes pushing wind turbines 5 km from shore
My Editorial: Anyone to says Toronto Hydro’s project has dead is not telling the truth. Toronto Hydro has made no such statement. The Minister of Energy has suggested there may be loopholes and nothing is stopping Toronto Hydro from coming back at 5 kilometres. There is also a small window for them to run against the clock to get approvals in advance of the new regulations. – John Laforet
Toronto Star: Ontario proposes pushing wind turbines 5 km from shore
John Spears
Business Reporter
Offshore wind turbines should not be closer than 5 kilometres from the shoreline, Ontario’s environment ministry has proposed.
If approved, the guideline would appear to pose problems for Toronto Hydro’s proposed wind development off the Scarborough Bluffs.
Toronto Hydro wants to erect up to 60 turbines in Lake Ontario on a reef that runs two to four kilometers offshore, from the east end of Toronto to Ajax.
Earlier this month, the company installed a device to measure wind speeds in the area.
Toronto Hydro has said it chose the site because of the shallow water on the reef. Farther offshore, the water is much deeper and the turbines would cost much more to install.
Tanya Bruckmueller of Toronto Hydro said the company needs time to study the ministry proposal, and plans to participate in the consultation process.
The ministry will hold public consultation sessions in the fall on the proposed guidelines, and a 60-day comment period has opened on the Ontario environmental registry. (Registry number 011-0089.)
In addition to the 5-kilometre exclusion zone, the environment ministry is proposing that off-shore wind proposals would have to go through a “stringent and comprehensive application process.”
Energy Minister Brad Duguid said the proposed guideline provides clarity to proponents of wind power projects and to people who may be affected by them.
“I think it sets to rest the concerns of some moderate people who were concerned that if they go to the beach, they could be looking up at a huge wind turbine,” he said in an interview.
The 5 kilometre zone is in the mid-range of zones proposed by several U.S. states, he said, and will affect different wind project differently.
“Some will be able to adjust, others will certainly be impacted,” he said
John Laforet, president of Wind Concerns Ontario and a vocal opponent of Toronto Hydro’s proposal, said the 5 kilometre guideline is “totally inadequate.”
“They’re hoping community opposition will die down because they’ve thrown us a very small bone,” he said, adding he will continue to lead opposition to wind projects.
Ontario is pushing for more electricity from renewable sources, as it shuts down coal-fired generating stations. It will pay 19 cents a kilowatt hour to offshore wind generators; the average market price paid to generators for June has been just over 4 cents.
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