Protesters gathered outdoors the Municipality of Colchester workplaces on Queen Avenue on Nov. 16. Their indicators learn “Cease the generators” and “Don’t destroy our forests.”
Inside, council heard remarks from proponents for and towards an modification which might have seen wind turbine growth halted till December 2024, when the county would’ve had their municipal planning technique and land-use bylaw in place.
Protesters stand outdoors the Municipality of Colchester workplaces on Queen Avenue whereas council decides whether or not to maneuver forward with a bylaw pausing wind turbine growth till December 2024. Council finally rejected the movement. – Brendyn Creamer
When it got here to a vote throughout the second studying, solely 4 voted affirmatively: Marie Benoit, Laurie Sandeson, Victoria Lomond and Karen MacKenzie. The others, a few of whom voted affirmatively throughout the first studying of the modification, voted towards it (in addition to Michael Gregory, who needed to sit out of the dialogue as a result of a battle of curiosity).
On the coronary heart of the difficulty is the Windy Ridge Energy Undertaking, a wind turbine web site and hydrogen manufacturing plant north of Debert. The corporate, EverWind Fuels, is seeking to develop as much as 58 generators on industrially logged personal land. Backing them are Bayside Company of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation and Potlotek First Nation.
The identical firm has partnered with Membertou firm Wind Power to purchase vitality from their proposed Kmtnuk wind challenge, adjoining to Windy Ridge, consisting of one other 20 generators. Each are slated for building between 2024 and 2026.
To Mayor Christine Blair, who voted to strike down the modification, it was for Colchester to get extra concerned with renewable vitality.
“The principle factor is, no matter occurs will assist us get off fossil fuels,” mentioned Blair. “Getting off that isn’t going to occur in a single day.”
Municipal planning technique
The province requires all municipalities to have a municipal planning technique and land-use bylaw, which permits them to have higher management over how their land is managed and developed.
And not using a municipal planning technique, EverWind doesn’t want a growth settlement with the Municipality of Colchester to assemble both of its initiatives. Nonetheless, they should submit an environmental evaluation to the province.
As a substitute, the county has a standalone wind turbine bylaw, which, in response to Blair, is “just a little extra versatile” than a municipal planning technique. This bylaw was final up to date in February 2023, when amendments had been added to extend setback distances, strengthen decommissioning necessities and introduce top restrictions for generators within the county.
Previous to this, a wind turbine moratorium had been in place since February 2022.
The vote
Discussing what made councillors vote affirmatively throughout the first studying of the modification on Oct. 26, Blair mentioned all of it got here right down to the density of generators.
Nonetheless, after listening to a presentation from EverWind on Nov. 14, Blair believed their inquiries to have been answered. EverWind’s web site states density will likely be roughly one turbine per 436 acres on common.
“As soon as we bought extra info, our council did their homework, talked to individuals, had shows, had info classes and every thing we might presumably do to get as a lot info as we might get earlier than we decided,” mentioned Blair.
Whereas Blair admits she’s uncertain of the particulars of the event of hydrogen by means of wind generators, she voiced her dedication to getting off fossil fuels.
