Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The battle over wind power has arrived in Zorra Township.
Prowind, a German-based company, is courting landowners in the township to sign on to a proposed development that would see roughly 20 turbines built in Zorra.
The procurement is a part of the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and the provincial government’s plea for more energy to meet what they say are the future needs of the electrical grid.
“We need to achieve a support resolution from the municipality in order to participate in the next procurement,” said Helmit Schneider, Vice President of Renewable Energy Development at Prowind.
“We are making presentations to four area townships and we are looking to see what municipalities are willing to take a serious look at these projects to see where the benefit to the township and the community is,” he added.
Prowind has also pitched wind power to Blandford-Blenheim, South-West Oxford and East Zorra-Tavistock. EZT council unanimously passed a motion declaring itself an unwilling host.
One Zorra councillor has made it abundantly clear he is not in favour of allowing wind power in Zorra. Paul Mitchell said as of today, he is the only elected official prepared to draw a line in the sand.
“Right now, the only member of council supporting an unwilling host motion is myself. The mayor, Marcus Ryan, was very vocal in his support of the Prowind plan when they came to East Zorra-Tavistock and the other three (councillors), I honestly don’t know where they stand.”
He added the last time he spoke to his fellow elected officials they wanted more information before they decided. One of those elected officials is Councillor Katie Grigg.
“I wouldn’t say I am open to wind power in Zorra. I would say I am open to seeing the process through that allows for the exploration of wind farms in the township.”
She added wind farms are a permitted use and regulated by the provincial government and municipalities have a role to either provide an endorsement or not.
“I think for us at this stage, we haven’t been asked to approve a specific project. I know the community is feeling some urgency, but there is no urgency around making any kind of declaration at this time. What I and several of my colleagues at council have said they are interested in gathering more information so we can be as informed as possible if and when we have that question before us.”
She added because wind power is within the provincial framework, Zorra doesn’t have readily available expertise from staff members.
“It’s going to take some time for us if we would like to be properly informed on this matter.”
Mitchell added he is concerned about the issue of creating wedges in the community, similar to what happened in Norwich Township with the Gunn’s Hill development.
“The three (members of council) that are undecided, two live in Thamesford and one in Embro, so I don’t think they have the full understanding of what the impact is on the countryside if a development was approved. This has torn communities apart.”
Grigg added she isn’t willing to take a position that would impact the community to this extent unless she was confident in what led her to that place.
“We make a lot of difficult decisions and I think the important thing to remember is any decision before council can be voted for or against or also to defer. If I’m not comfortable on any matter, this one included, I would advocate for that option to defer so I have the ability to get the information I am looking for.”
Prowind has taken a different tactic when compared to its strategy in East Zorra-Tavistock when it released a map of the properties it was targetting, a graphic leaked to the Echo’s sister paper, the Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette.
“They are being much less open about where they are going to go. I have talked to several people who have been approached but Prowind isn’t doing that here. They aren’t announcing publicly where they want to go. We know generally it's along that transmission corridor that runs through Zorra from London to Kitchener,” explained Mitchell.
When it comes to tabling a motion to declare Zorra an unwilling host, Mitchell said he’s waiting for the right time.
“I need to be fairly confident it will pass because if I bring it forward and it fails, I can’t bring it forward again and we can’t use that tool to prevent not only Prowind but any other company from coming in. I have to be careful about the timing of that.”
Joan Morris is an anti-wind power advocate who lives in the middle of the Prowind Gunn’s Hill wind power development. She reached out to the Echo to say she would be attending the meeting in Embro this week. She also had a warning for Zorra Township residents around the messaging from Prowind.
“Their invitation for a meeting (Wednesday) night says they are a local wind company. Let’s face it. They are a subsidiary of a German company. They have come here and are laughing all the way to the bank at the expense of Ontario taxpayers because we are subsidizing wind production.”
Prowind is a partner with a group called Oxford Community Energy Cooperative. Its website says it is a renewable energy co-op based in Oxford County and partnered with Prowind for the Gunn’s Hill project. Morris said they are not a community-based group.
“The corporation report shows the original board of directors was made up of two Prowind employees and executives from sustainable energy companies and a guy from an organization called Friends of Wind. These people live in the Ilderton area, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Toronto, Mississauga and Stouffville. Helmut was the one token member from Oxford County.”
Prowind hosted a public information meeting on Wednesday night at the Embro Community Centre, the same day the Echo goes to print. A Facebook post from the group said “We have been following recent discussions in local forums regarding wind energy and its potential impact on the community. We value your questions and believe that open dialogue is crucial. Therefore, we would like to invite you to a Community Meeting…Members of the Prowind team will be hosting a panel to address both the benefits of wind energy and the concerns that have been raised. We welcome all community members to attend, ask questions, and engage in a thoughtful discussion.”
The Echo will have a full report on the meeting in the Oct. 25 edition.
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