Wind Turbine Survey - Comments

COMMENTS
Transcribed in no particular order….

All wind turbine projects are predicated on where they are located. There is a large tract of land along the south shore, south of army reserve rd – ideal place for limited number of windmills. But transmission should be underground to limit the potential damage.
Finally most importantly – NO development should be permitted until there is a comprehensive alternate energy plan drafted for the County.
This plan must be sustainable and meet best practices for the community.

Major wind energy development is needed to reduce air pollution and resulting health costs and to extend the life of the fossil fuel supply. It supports family farms and rural economy and will not scare any tourists away.
I see wind turbines as a major step towards a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.

I believe there is insufficient data available regarding the effects of wind turbines on the health and well-being of people living in the proximity of the projects to enable us to simply decide to go ahead for the benefit of the few who will benefit from leasing of farmlands to their development.

There is a lot of information left out about the economics of windmills. The Federal government gives a grant of $10.00 per KW capability of each windmill. We do not know how much the Provincial government gives the producers of electricity are paid a premium price by Ontario generation while the consumer pays 5-6 cents per KW (and we still pay to have sent to us and pay hydro’s debt).
So the taxpayer is heavily subsidizing these projects which at best run 60% of the time and have to be taken off line for maintenance.
The system is inefficient and Mr. Smitherman knows it so he can promote nuclear energy.

The programs supporting alternative energy are a sham. Geo thermal would supply good heating and cooling but cost for new construction is prohibitive (no rebates – no incentive). Heating and cooling our homes and business consumes a lot of energy.
Solar hot water is also a large consumption of energy. The program again means you have to go through bureaucratic hoops. People making money to tell you what you already know.
In order to get the rebates we need not only to oppose but provide alternative.

Note: the timing of this survey is not the best.
This is the busiest time of the year.New information related to distance and health concerns are coming on stream as we speak.

The European experience has been mixed. There are issues of reliability, oscillation and storage that have not been fully addressed.
Further I do not agree with grant programs that do not provide a payback to taxpayers that substantially front the costs.
If private enterprise wants to do this, the cost should be born by shareholders not the taxpayers.

I feel this wind energy fever is a misplaced dumping ground for a lot of people wish to do good environmentally.
However, to ruin the natural beauty of a place like the County is a net loss for everyone and earth.
Apparently countries with extensive wind turbine developments have experienced no reduction in fossil fuel use, which I guess is the perceived goal of wind energy, so why would it be different here.

Brainstorming sessions without the rush to do something immediately, while the easy handouts are available, could lead to numerous and varied alternatives to big, dumb turbines littering the landscape and have an actual and verifiable reduction in fossil fuel use.
I also think it is great you are doing this survey and I assume it is with the intent of coming out publically with your findings.
Then as a highly visible presence in the community, everyone will know where the Chamber stands on this issue, which of course you will know when you analyze these surveys.

I don’t support any turbines on Prince Edward Point or anywhere near or in sight of Sandbanks or North Beach Provincial Parks.
I mostly so not support wind projects as they have been proposed in Ontario to date. I think that wind power projects might have a place in an overall alternative energy initiative that includes other types of alternative energy but I believe these projects must be carefully planned so as not to damage the communities and countryside and waterfront where there are places.

The projects proposed will probably decrease much need revenue for Prince Edward County. It seems clear that property values and tourism will drop id these projects go forward.
The damage will outweigh the benefits.

Thank you for taking this survey.
Wind turbines over 50 feet in height should not be allowed in Prince Edward County. PEC is a populated, vibrant, beautiful destination point that Ontario needs and cannot lose. Wind turbines will decrease property values, health, landscapes and the aesthetic desirability for Ontarians and others to visit, shop, enjoy and possibly reside in this beautiful jewel Ontario has. Ontario only has 4 to 6 “Jewels” to attract tourism, places for our seniors or approaching seniors to retire or buy …….. homes.
PEC ranks with Niagara region Ottawa, Muskoka, Oak Ridges, as pristine cultural, agricultural areas in Ontario. All should have ugly large noisy expensive wind turbines banned forever.

I agree with the proposal put forth by 3 men from Big Island – small scale wind projects, solar panel, geothermal units, etc. with grants from governments. Not foreign huge scale towers.