AH Endorses Municipal Veto Over Wind Turbine Proposals

Craig Bakay | Feb 14, 2024

Addington Highlands Council had a couple of comments to submit to the Independent Electrical System Operator (IESO) request for feedback.

Dep. Clerk/Planning Secretary Patricia Gray participated in a webinar Jan. 17 with respect to the next procurement process in Ontario.

Council clearly indicated its preference that any project submissions require municipal support before acceptance and requested IESO also respond with its interpretation of what the municipality’s role is and what the municipality can and can’t control.

Previously, contractors had 18 months after acceptance of a project to solicit municipal support and then it only contributed to a points system for awarding contracts.

Gray said that supporting a project will not negate any municipal approval processes such as requirements under the Municipal Act or the Official Plan, nor would negate the need for building permits.

“People in our area certainly know what an industrial wind turbine looks like,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch. “They’re well versed in it.

“It would probably be in the areas that have been proposed before (referring to several unsuccessful bids to construct wind turbines in the past).

However, the IESO long term procurement targets are not limited to wind turbines but could be solar arrays, biomass generation systems or hydro-electric projects.

“Ontario expects energy consumption to double by 2050,” Gray said. “IESO is proposing three more procurements by 2029 to produce 5,000 megawatts.”

“The disadvantage of mandatory municipal support is that you know very little about the project other than they want to put it where there is wind in your area,” Fritsch said. “On the pro side, the developer would not invest a lot of time in it if you said you would not support it.”

Hall Rental Fees Waived

Council approved waiving rental fees for three community groups to use municipal facilities.

These include the Denbigh Hall for St. Luke’s United Church to hold a pancake supper fundraiser Feb. 13; the Denbigh Hall for the Eastern Ontario Homesteading Conference May 4 and the Flinton Hall for the North Addington Education Centre’s Parents Council to hold a fundraiser pancake breakfast March 2 to raise funds for school trip transportation costs.

Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch added a rider to the EOHC conference that the organization be responsible for removing recyclables and waste after the event.

Seedling Program

The Township expressed interest in Quinte Conservation’s Tree Seedling Program, suggesting a limit of 10 trees per resident. Details for residents to participate are still pending but the idea is to offer a variety of tree species ranging from $1.50 each (white pine, red pine, white spruce, white cedar) to $2 each (sugar maple, silver maple, red oak, white birch, black cherry, northern hackberry) to $2.50 each (ninebark, Allegany serviceberry, nannyberry).

Equipment Operator Training

Roads & Waste Supervisor Brett Reavie said he was in favour of a municipal equipment operator course being offered “as long as it doesn’t become mandatory. We’re going through that with the fire department right now.”

Statutory Holidays

Roads & Waste Supervisor Brett Reavie said that with a number of statutory holidays falling on Mondays this year, the waste sites hours would have to be changed. The revised hours (days) of operation are on the Township website.

“Yes, I got calls when the waste site was closed on Canada Day,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

Sidewalks Cleared

Roads & Waste Supervisor Brett Reavie said they’ve finally cleared the sidewalks on the west side of Northbrook. “We got a lot of help from Emcon and it went quite smoothly,” he said.

Building Report

“Building inquires continue to suggest a healthy environment for construction,” said CBO/Facilities Manager David Twiddy. “Inquires suggest there is lots of appetite for development opportunities.”

He said 2023 was a good year for building projects and that seems to be continuing into 2024.

Skating Rink

With all the unseasonable weather (read warmth) recently, the skating hasn’t been quite so good and that’s presented challenges for Township rink workers.

“It’s been a stop-and-go situation,” said CBO/Facilities Manager David Twiddy said. “But to see the current status of rinks, go to the Township’s official Facebook page.”

Northbrook Firehall

Fire Chief Casey Cuddy said an issue with the electrical system at the Northbrook firehall has been resolved, even if final costs are not in.

“We had a little situation there on a stormy Friday night,” Cuddy said. “I got a pretty little strobe light show.

“The electrical subcontractor who installed it is no longer in business so we can’t go after them for payment but the threshold is likely going to be met for insurance to kick in.”