Dealing with the devil

County to approve cost-recovery deal with industrial wind developer

Should we make a deal with someone we’ve made clear we want nothing to do with? That is the quandary a committee of council faced last week as it tried to figure out what to do with Gilead Power Corporation.

The industrial wind developer continues to move ahead with plans to erect nine 400-foot turbines on Crown Land at Ostrander Point. This, despite the fact that municipal council has twice passed moratoria suspending industrial wind energy development in the County.This municipality, like 80 others, wants these major wind factories stopped until impacts on human health, natural habitat and the local economy are better understood.

But the McGuinty government’s Green Energy Act expressly removes municipal authority over where, how many, and in what manner these massive turbines shall be erected.

The municipality has submitted questions to both the developer and ministry officials yet has failed to receive a satisfactory responses from either.

Meanwhile, this municipality is incurring costs as it answers questions about proposed transportation and transmission routes through the County. County officials want to enter into an agreement with the developer to ensure that costs related to the project are paid by Gilead and not the general taxpayer.

But some on council worry that a simple cost-recovery agreement could signal to the developer and the province that the County is ready to roll over and accept the project. Moreover, they fear this agreement will become the cornerstone for additional agreements.

“This seems really premature,” said North Marysburgh Councillor Robert Quaiff. “Why do we have to jump into bed with this developer?”

Quaiff also complained that $10,000 wasn’t nearly enough to cover the County’s costs.

“This is a joke,” said Quaiff. “There is nothing in here about our roads or about decommissioning costs. There are too many questions to be answered before we sign agreements with these developers.”

Planning Commissioner and acting Chief Administrative Officer Gerry Murphy responded that the $10,000 prescribed in the proposed pre-development agreement was meant to cover staff time and legal expenses required in evaluating the Gilead proposal, noting that the developer isn’t required to enter into such an agreement.

“The project is going ahead,” said Murphy. “The $10,000 isn’t security for road repairs, it is for day-to-day expenses we are incurring now.

“Signing this agreement doesn’t mean that the municipality approves the project. Rather it gives the County a way to recover our costs.”

Quaiff wasn’t yet persuaded. He tabled a motion to defer signing the agreement until council’s questions were addressed satisfactorily.

“An agreement makes you a willing participant. It then becomes a building block to other agreements.”

Others shared his concern.

“We haven’t got answers to questions we’ve been asking for 10 years,” said Sophi asburgh Councillor Terry Shortt. “There is a problem with this process. Here we sit with a gun to our heads.

“How far is the province willing to take this? This project will surely open the door to others. Sometimes you have to take a stand.”

Picton Councillor Brian Marrisett tried to assure his colleagues that this agreement wasn’t an endorsement but rather “due diligence.”

“We have no protection for the ratepayers of Prince Edward County,” said Marrisett.

Marrisett’s Picton seatmate was less sanguine.

“This puts us in a process by default,” said Councillor Bev Campbell. “There is nothing in the Green Energy Act that compels them (Giliead) to such an agreement. Without this we have no way to recover costs.”

Mayor Peter Mertens agreed, albeit reluctantly.

“There are times we just have to hold our nose and move on,” said Mertens. “If I thought deferring this agreement would get our questions answered I would vote for the deferral. But we’ve already spent money.We need this protection.”

Hillier Councillor Alec Lunn has been a consistent opponent to industrial wind energy in the County. However he too agreed that a cost recovery agreement should be in place.

“If the province is going to impose this,” said Lunn, “then we need to be at the table.”

Sensing the direction of the debate around the horsehoe, Quaiff proposed upping the amount prescribed in the agreement from $10,000 to $100,000.

Athol Councillor Jamie Forrester dismissed the increase.

“We’ve asked these people to come to the table,” said Forrester. “To ask for more money is just ridiculous.”

Marisett described it as “confrontational.” Mertens said upping the amount was a risk, but one worth taking.

“I think the province is watching how Gilead and other developers are addressing concerns with municipalities,” said Mertens.

Hallowell Councillor Heather Campbell suggested her colleagues needn’t worry too much about the developer’s ability to pay the additional amount.

“The Ministry of Transportation requires a $25,000 deposit when you apply to adjust the location of a driveway on the Loyalist Parkway,” said Campbell. “This project is much more complicated than moving a driveway.”