Letter to the Editor - August 18, 2010

Lake versus land turbine setbacks

When the proposed five-kilometre ban on lake turbines was announced in late June, Essex MPP Bruce Crozier said in a news release, "the setback eliminates projects being proposed in Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair" and he would "continue to work to ensure that no offshore projects go forward in our community."

MPP Crozier is willing to support residents living along the shorelines of Lake Erie, but not residents on land, such as myself, dealing with three turbines within one kilometre (24 within 5 km).

In his proposal of the 5-km setback, Energy Minister Brad Duguid said, "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."

Is Minister Duguid suggesting that residents inland are not moderates? Just like shoreline residents, I don't want to look at these massive industrial structures. More importantly, I also want to make sure that they don't make me sick or break me with exorbitant electrical rates.

On June 22, I attended a meeting in Toronto with the Ministry of the Environment, who contracted a CanWEA member to develop a method for measuring noise. During this consultation, not once did I see an effort to establish a method to measure during those times residents felt disturbed by the noise. Instead, I saw effort to fit real world circumstances to a belief that computer models represent the conditions that are causing complaints, so the use of computer models can be used to predict "annoyance."

I don't recognize my province anymore when people are treated as expendable collateral all for the sake of unproven, inefficient, hugely expensive and unreliable industrial wind energy.

To all those who are set to vote this coming fall for municipal elections, and next year for the provincial elections, please keep this in mind as Essex County continues to sprout these behemoths.

Colette McLean
Colchester South

Signs say no left turn

On Main Street Essex there are two signs that are clearly marked "No left turns into parking lot." One is by the old Shopper's drug store location, and the other is marked between the Essex Party and Discount store and Bennigin's. Yet people continue to turn left.

Are these signs not big enough for all to see? Do we need bigger signs or flashing lights to mark these signs?

Come on people pay attention!

Monique Thibodeau
Cottam