Wind turbine bylaw motion defeated

The proposed bylaw was recommended in June by councils’ planning advisory committee. “Council had some concerns about it so they asked to look at some options of ways it could be done a little differently,” said Warden Jim Thurber.

There are two wind turbines within the municipality, and SkyPower is planning to erect 20 more turbines in the near future.

Thurber said the municipality began work on the bylaw just before the SkyPower wind farm was proposed near Gulliver’s Cove, and he noted the public is concerned about possible effects.

Councils main concern is that the proposed bylaw is too difficult to understand and too vague, Thurber said.

He does not want to see developers come into the area and not know if they can go ahead with a project. “So we want them to be able to know what the rules are,” he said.

Council faced a number of questions at last week’s meeting, including whether approval to erect wind turbines should be subject to a process that involves public questions, and whether council prefers prescriptive or performance-based control standards. “I think we’re all concerned. We want the public to feel comfortable with what’s going to be there,” said Thurber.

The bylaw motion was defeated at the July 20 meeting, leaving a few people in the gallery baffled. Some got up and left while others voiced displeasure. “We believe in green energy, we believe in trying to accommodate the industry with as little affect on local residents as possible or reasonable,” said Thurber. “Unfortunately, our decision was not popular with those in attendance, but we feel it’s good for the municipality to be involved in wind energy.”

Deputy warden Jimmy MacAlpine said he supports a wind turbine bylaw and feels the key is to have an appropriate setback distance from houses and decibel level standards.

But he said those attending council’s meeting apparently “wanted the development agreement process brought in right now. For whatever reason, they feel that by having this in place, it will stop a proposed project from going forward, I guess.” Council has asked its consultant to look into ways it can go forward, said Thurber. ldelong@digbycourier.ca