The wrong way

Four security guards provided protection at wpd Canada’s public meeting last Thursday, including the two men at left, scrutinizing participants as they arrived to the gymnasium at PECI.

A whitewash on wind energy plan, many sleepless nights in South Marysburgh

South Marysburgh residents were joined by many other County residents at a public meeting held by wpd Canada at PECI last Thursday. They were looking for a public discussion. Instead, they were disappointed to see the school’s gymnasium divided into booths by posters and curtains in the style of an information fair.

Wpd, whose White Pines project to build 29 turbines south of Milford made headlines when residents saw trees and brush on Maypul Layn cleared for work on the company’s behalf, held the first of two mandatory public sessions as a part of the application process.

Entry into the meeting was controlled by security guards, who allowed visitors to trickle in by one designated entry door, and leave through a separate exit. A room was set up in one corner of the gym, looping a video about wpd’s plans on a temporary screen.

Tables were set up throughout the gym, with representatives from both wpd and consulting engineering firm Stantec answering questions and listening to local angst.

Wpd is required to hold the two sessions, as well as collect all public feedback it receives throughout the application process. The trouble is, none of those comments are made publicly available until after the application has been submitted to the Ministry of the Envoronment. Residents feel their voice is being removed from the equation without a public conversation.

“It’s up to the developer to determine what format they feel will best accomplish what they’re trying to do,” said Keith Surette, manager of communications for wpd. “We’re trying to get feedback from the public, let them know that we’re still in the early stages of preparing our reports, there’s still time to provide feedback at any time. Not just tonight. And I feel this forum, this method that we’re using is accomplishing that.”

“This isn’t a public forum; they’re dividing and conquering us. If this was a public forum it would be a f****** shit show here,” said Craig McMillan. Thirty-nine-year-old McMillan lives in Milford with his wife in a century home approximately 750 feet away from one of the proposed turbines. “No one’s allowed to hear my opinion, and no one’s allowed to hear their answers to my opinion.”

Some residents tried to remedy the problem by asking questions in a group. Led by Dr. Robert McMurtry and Eric Schenkman, a crowd surrounded wpd Canada President Ian MacRae and proceeded to ask questions in one loud voice, so that they could be heard.

The group also chanted back MacRae’s responses, and let him know when the answers were not satisfactory. MacRae permitted the organized question period, but did not remain long in the room.

Surette received a few earfuls from Milford residents who wanted to know why the company wanted to build turbines where locals didn’t want them.

“Yes, there are people who are opposed to our projects in whatever community we’re in,” said Surette. “But there are also those who support the projects that we’re moving forward and support renewable energies. They’re not quite as vocal or as visible, but we do know that there is support in the communities that we’re in.”

McMillan disagrees.

“There are a few landowners who are getting rich on it, but by and large, the community is against these things. You know it, I know it,” said McMillan. “Things like the Edward Building in downtown Picton, that had to conform to building codes, to municipal structures, so it fits in with the regional [character]. You wouldn’t put an office tower in the middle of any of this space, so why are these things around. This is developers getting rich. It’s nothing more than that.”