Wind farms are becoming a notable interest in Saskatchewan. Currently, Saskatchewan produces 221 megawatts of electricity spread across 143 turbines. From the Cypress Wind project to the wind farm in Morse, these facilities are generating 3.1 per cent of Saskatchewan鈥檚 power 鈥� a proportion equivalent to operating nearly 80,000 average-sized homes and a number guaranteed to expand after the wind power project is completed in Assiniboia.聽聽
Wind power shows great promise in Saskatchewan. Yet, wind power technology is still relatively new and therefore provides a list of unknowns. The purpose of these Community Liaison Committee meetings is to provide information, discussions and answers to the Potentia鈥檚 Golden 小蓝视频 Wind Energy Project. The first of these meetings happened at St. George鈥檚 Catholic Church in Assiniboia on Tuesday, September 17 from 6:30-8 p.m.
Kathryn Palmer of Dillon Consulting tabled the CLC gathering attended by executives and members of the community. Palmer outlined the purpose of these meetings, involving a roundtable discussion with chosen members in the region who will sit on the panel along with Potentia representatives. Members at large are also encouraged to attend.
During her introduction, Palmer urged everyone assembled in St. George's to participate in a respectful manner and provide accurate information to advance the discussions. Committee members were also requested to attend all scheduled meetings. Moreover, Palmer said complaints about the wind power project should always be addressed in a comprehensive fashion without using mechanical or academic jargon. Concerns about the wind farm will be identified at all of these assemblies. There will be six meetings in total to be held in a local setting in Assiniboia. The public is invited to attend the meetings for observational purposes. Further, the public are invited to submit concerns about wind farms before each assembly, but these questions should be submitted to the committee at least seven days in advance. The next meeting is set for December.
One of the first issues discussed at the first CLC meeting involved a conversation about the location of a farmyard airstrip near the wind power project. Andrea Garcia, Director of Development for Potentia, suggested the airstrip might have to be relocated, but this depends on the views of Transport Canada who have studied the layout of Potentia鈥檚 wind farm. Another question from the public involved the amount of lights fixed to the wind turbines. According to Garcia, the lights on these turbines should have limited affects. She talked about series of lights fixed to each of the turbines along with strobes. But Garcia insisted the problems created by light pollution has been taken into consideration, which is a requirement of the federal government. 鈥淭here鈥檒l be strobe lights 鈥� not like in a club 鈥� but they鈥檒l go off and on,鈥� Garcia said.
A local producer wanted to know how close the wind farm was to their property. 鈥淥ur acreage is close to the substation. How close is the substation?鈥� She asked. The producer made this enquiry out of a concern for noise levels and other possible effects caused be the proximity of the windfarm to her family鈥檚 farm.
Noise from wind farms is a longstanding and argumentative point against this form of clean energy. Benjamin Thibault published a study about the lack of noise complaints on Albertan wind farms in July 2013 for the Pembina Institute. But Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent for The Telegraph, reported on the grievances about noise pollution from those who were living near a wind farm in North West England in March 2010. Gillian Haythornthwaite鈥檚 rural property existed close to the Cumbrian Askam and Ireleth聽wind farm where she lived with her partner, Barry Moon. Haythornwaite said living near the wind farm had been a "devastating" experience because of the constant whooshing sounds from the turbines.
But Potentia is certain that noise from the wind farm won鈥檛 be a factor in the layout area south of Assiniboia. 鈥淔orty decibels is the noise limit in Saskatchewan,鈥� Garcia stated when she replied to the resident鈥檚 question. 鈥淗ealth Canada has done an extensive study of wind turbines for issues,鈥� she added.
Another local producer showed concern for migrating birds flying through the wind farm. 鈥淚n the fall, because there鈥檚 lots of bogs in the area and a lot of waterfowl coming through, are they鈥檙e any concerns about deaths?鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing unique about this area that would cause a greater than average bird mortality,鈥� Garcia responded. 鈥淏ut we have to monitor bird mortalities and contact Environment Canada.鈥�
Hopefully, the CLC meetings will provide a venue where thorough dialogues on the wind farm south of Assiniboia will result in a better understanding of this project and how it will transform this region for better or for worse. But there seemed to be more questions than answers for some at the initial CLC meeting. 鈥淗ow do feel the people are understanding what is going on?鈥� A community member asked as he stood up and addressed the panel and the public. 鈥淏ecause there鈥檚 a major disconnect with the community,鈥� the member concluded.
