Glencoe residents demonstrate against proposed wind turbines

Southwest Middlesex residents create petition against proposed wind turbine project in their backyard. CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell has the story.

An anti-wind turbine movement in Southwest Middlesex is picking up steam, as council in the municipality southwest of London, considers a proposal for the community’s first such project.

“It’s time to move on with this green energy. Wind turbines is not the way to do it,” said Glencoe resident Ken Beecroft. He was one of about 50 area residents who gathered on the main street in Glencoe Friday in protest of wind turbines coming to the area.

Venfor Inc. is proposing a project that would have 17 wind turbines installed on properties in the municipality, with deals secured though private land-owners. The turbines would generate electricity for the Ontario power grid.

“We’ve seen our neighbours to the west, and the problems they’ve gone through with well water. And it’s bad for the environment, migrating birds,” said Beecroft.

A petition against the proposal is gathering steam. Organizer Lee Courchesne says the group is hoping to gather enough signatures to convince Southwest Middlesex Council to turn down the proposal.

“So the petition is to declare our municipality as an unwilling host,” she said.

Former Southwest Middlesex Mayor Doug Reycraft says council shut down the idea of wind turbines 20 years ago. He says he feels the same way today about them as he did then.

“I think there are still way too many unanswered questions about the use of wind turbines and their impact on property over the long haul,” said Reycraft.

CTV News reached out to FIA, Venfor’s consultant on the project, who took part in a presentation to council on the wind turbine proposal. We did not get a response by publishing time.

We did reach Southwest Middlesex mayor Al Mayhew, who tells CTV News the wind turbine project would generate $300,000 to $400,000 in tax revenue every year over 20 to 30 years.

“People will have to realize, one of two things will happen- taxes will increase, or services will decrease. Because we have to pay our bills. Unlike other levels of government, we can’t run a deficit,” said Mayhew.

Mayhew says he hasn’t decided whether he’ll support Venfor’s proposal.

A staff report on the project is expected August 13.