Prince Edward County Councillor Steve Ferguson, CAO JAmes Hepburn, Mayor Robert Quaiff and Commissioner of Engineering, Development and Works Robert McAuley address a crowd at a wind turbine meeting, at the Milford Town Hall, on September 18, 2017. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Despite the fact that WPD has started to move in equipment and begun clearing work on the sites of nine proposed industrial wind turbines, residents in Prince Edward County opposed to the project, aren’t backing down.
Another information night was held at the Milford Town Hall Monday evening, where a panel including Mayor Robert Quaiff and senior county staff answered questions from the public and heard suggestions about how to continue the fight against the project.
Residents had gathered earlier this month for a similar meeting, before the work had begun.
Mayor Quaiff tells Quinte News, the next step is to look into the fact that WPD has already begun clearing work, when a recent environmental review tribunal decision expressly stated that work couldn’t be started until mid-October, to protect the habitat of endangered species there.
Quaiff says the County doesn’t have the power to enforce an injunction itself, but can ask the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to put one in place.
He also says the County will be looking to see if the company will need an updated Renewable Energy Approval from the province to change the power of the proposed turbines, or move power lines from underground, to above ground poles.
Meanwhile, some residents also said Monday night that they may resort to some sort of protest, or peaceful action against the project, if the work by WPD continues.
Councillor Steve Ferguson has been at the head of the fight against wind turbines and says the municipality isn’t advocating for any kind of protest action, but says it’s not out of the question based on how upset residents are.
He adds, there are many other municipalities in Ontario who are in the same boat, but the county’s location, endangered wildlife and residents have all helped the movement to see some success.
Ferguson noted that there were a lot of new faces in the group, asking a lot of technical questions, but he’ll work to get those answers to them and that residents and county staff need to keep an eye on the moves being made by WPD and the government.
