Construction / Destruction
This is what wind farm construction looks like from a distance. To understand what it’s like close-up you can watch a video of Mars Hill Residents talking about the impact the windfarm has had on their lives here.
This is a picture from a wind turbine construction site at Backbone Mountain, Tucker County, West Virgina. What is being done here cannot be undone in our lifetimes.
Construction involving such heavy equipment kicks up a lot of dust and is very hard on roads not designed to handle them. Road resurfacing in our area costs between $45,000 to $60,000 per mile. Who pays?
What is the impact of such foundations on our bedrock and water table? If wells are spoiled, who will be responsible?
That’s one blade!
Weather Alterations due to increased turbulence and surface roughness
Species at Risk in Ontario http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/
Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act 2007 (ESA 2007) prohibits the damage or destruction of the habitat of species classified as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List in Ontario Regulation 230/08 http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA2NDI0&statusId=MTU5NjA4&language=en
Eastern Cougar
Human disturbance, combined with land clearing for settlement and agriculture, was responsible for the disappearance of cougars over most of northeastern North America.
http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&id=135&lang=en
Woodland Caribou
Last Fall, MNR initiated the development of a Caribou Conservation Plan to help guide caribou conservation and recovery efforts in Ontario. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/2ColumnSubPage/249504.html
Birds
Peregrine Falcon http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/
This is one of Canada’s most well known species at risk, owing to almost 50 years of public attention and conservation efforts. The peregrine falcon is a crow-sized bird with a slate blue back and a cream-coloured chest covered in dark markings. Peregrine falcons have pointed wings that span about one metre, a narrow tail and adults have a prominent black “moustache.” The dark feathers on the falcon’s head make the bird look like it’s wearing a helmet. Another distinguishing feature of this falcon is its bright yellow feet and legs.
Peregrine Falcons (threatened) nest on high steep cliff ledges close to large bodies of water and on structures such as tall buildings and bridges. Although Peregrine Falcons now nest in and a around Toronto and several other southern Ontario Cities, the majority of Ontario’s breeding population is found around Lake Superior in Northern Ontario.
June 17-2009
“The Municipality of Neebing adopted a resolution to NOT support the proposed one kilometre radius of habitat protecting the Peregrine falcon as recommended by the new EBR and Ministry of Natural Resources.”
Don’t WE have a say? http://www.neebing.org/resources/Minutes+Regular+June+17$2C+2009.pdf
Impact on Migratory Birds at Existing Wind Turbine Sites http://www.vulkaner.no/n/birds/eagle/hav.html
Wind turbines at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) kill more birds of prey than any other wind facility in North America, due to their location on a major bird migratory route in an area with high concentrations of raptors, including the highest density of breeding golden eagles in the world.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org
Barotrauma in Bats
Extreme pressure changes near blades injures bat lungs, U of C study finds
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/aug2008/batdeaths
Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/CLTIP/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_167425.html
This area (Squaretop Mountain) on the Nor’Wester Mountain range contains one of the largest existing stands of sugar maple in northwestern Ontario and is at the northern extremity of the species’ range. Other southern floral elements and an interesting cliff flora are also present.
From the top of Loch Lomond Ski Area
If we have one of the largest existing stands of sugar maple in northwestern Ontario then why are we distroying it???
By: Julia on November 18, 2009
at 12:48 am
STOP THE WIND TURBINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By: Julia on November 18, 2009
at 12:49 am
“largest existing stands ” what does that mean?? the whole area up there down to the border is primarily sugar maples, they arent cutting it all down .
What it sounds like your saying.
“stop green power!!”
By: harold smalski on December 12, 2009
at 4:50 pm
A report done by Lindsey Hilsum on the toxic, messy, dangerous, land pollution required to mine the 2 tons of earth to retrieve enough rare earth metal to construct a 3 MW IWT in Baotou, Mongolia raises the question as to what we call “green”. This is before the IWT impacts the environment with the construction of major roads, transmission lines, substation, blasting, cement, construction of fibreglass composite blades, 100’s of l of oil and clearing of forested habitats. Then there is the impact to wildlife from mortalities, which are higher than a few birds a year. Even with so called mitigation efforts bats most likely will be killed out of an area over time. IWTs are not that “green” and have too large an environmental impact for the small bit of unreliable energy produced.
By: Ralph on December 25, 2009
at 7:34 am
Clarification: The mining of rare earth is in Baotou, Mongolia, not the construction of the IWT. Sorry, that was confusing.
By: Ralph on December 25, 2009
at 7:37 am
So the wind turbine construction site is not Mars Hill, Maine as was originally posted???
By: wayne on July 28, 2011
at 4:38 am
Not sure what you mean Wayne.
By: Dan Fiorito on August 8, 2011
at 10:30 pm
Of course you don’t know what I mean, because your original source/reference for the photo is now different from your original post.
By: wayne on August 12, 2011
at 1:21 am
I didn’t author the information; I simply posted it as requested. The photo in question however is clearly identified as to its location. If others have posted this photo and mislabeled it, well mistakes happen, we’re all human.
By: Dan Fiorito on August 12, 2011
at 2:20 am
So as the ‘gatekeeper’ of information posted on this web site, you did not check or verify the sources of the information? Please to hear that you on behalf of this group admit to making mistakes.
By: wayne on August 14, 2011
at 2:53 am
Ok.. you win again. We’re all incompentent.
By: Dan Fiorito on August 14, 2011
at 2:45 pm
Wayne, you’ve made it painfully clear that no matter what we say or do, you’ll find something to complain about, you seem to love to try and antagonize people, additionally you also seem to centre the fine folks of South Neebing out in a variety of situations posted on the TBNewsWatch site, even using pictures of items which no one has complained about, yet you seem to think you need to try and start something (the latest I saw was regarding the Bell Tower issue in Port Arthur on John St, you felt it was necessary to include a picture of the tower behind the Tournament Centre).
We get it, you keep coming, you post your questions and dribble, and you expect us to jump and answer them all, I even recall once when I was out of town you complained that it took too long for me to approve one of your posts.
You claim our information, the vast majority of it is bogus and unfounded, yet you never provide any facts to prove the contrary, You spew information which has be basically backed and paid for by the Wind Industry here in Canada and around the world. I believe it was you who also touted the fact that the Sierra Club was a 100% behind all Wind Farms, well I can tell you when members of the area contacted Mr. Bennett (leader of the club) and advised that due to their stance on the subject they would no longer support the cause, his tune changed and clearly stated that they only support properly located farms, in fact he got rather nasty about it. In fact here’s a direct quote:
So, again, this appears to be nothing more than the Wind Industry improperly utilizing the so called support for their cause, if I recall it’s similar to what Mr. Suzuki stated as well. You seem to enjoy the same.
By: Dan Fiorito on August 14, 2011
at 11:13 pm
I did not say you or this ‘silent’ group is incompentent. You chose to use that term. I would rather use the terms, ‘misinformed’, ‘mislead’, ‘unscientific’, I have provided many facts and science, would you like me to copy and compile those comments for you?…oh and don’t worry, I won’t ask for a retainer…lol
As for the Sierra Club thing, nope, wasn’t me, but then again this group believes I work for horizon or firedog….lol
And with respect to the bell tower post, (and thanks for lurking and reading), I was making the point, as you would have read, how ludicrous the similar arguments are with respect to opposition to cell towers and wind turbines. Take this video for example, it shows a cell tower on fire, collapsing and nearly hitting a home. The same situation could apply to the home near the cell tower at the tournament centre. But as I pointed out before, and because you have lurked my comments, you would know that I stated, based upon facts, that the likelihood of turbine fires is rare.
This group should quit being so defensive, dismissive, and deflective.
By: wayne on August 15, 2011
at 10:33 pm
if you consider reading public posts “lurking” then i guess, yes, I am “lurking”. Like I’ve said repeatedly, you have your opinions and we have ours, we are the ones directly affected, our homes, families etc.. Therefore until it directly affects you, be it one of hundred different reasons, you won’t understands, nor I feel respect, our concerns. Our goals are clear, we are simply against this project, the developer, not the technology, the vast majority are of the same mindset, that’s our privilege. If you truly think these companies are doing this because it’s “Green” then your blind to the realities of it. The only green they’re interested in is CA$H. Most companies will stop at nothing to get it done as well, simply look at what’s happening in southern Ontario, companies are quietly purchasing all these homes around the projects in residential areas and forcing the owner to sign (basically they don’t have a choice) a confidentially agreement.
More and more evidence is coming to light daily that our so called concerns are valid and real, most areas have experienced huge losses in property values despite what the industry states. It’s affecting some individual’s health (real or otherwise) the list goes on. I’m not going to bother going on, it just gives you more to argue about.
By: Dan Fiorito on August 15, 2011
at 11:03 pm
But this group claims that the wind turbines will affect all citizens of Thunder Bay, without any scientific conclusive evidence that they will even affect those in South Neebing. Where’s the proof?…where’s the evidence that property values will depreciate?…where’s the evidence that health will be negatively affected? And by your last post, you have just confirmed your status as a NIMBY.
By: wayne on August 15, 2011
at 11:36 pm
Yup, we’re all NIMBY’s and proud of it. With that said, I’m tired of always having to answer your multiple posts, seems almost daily this week and I have better things to do right now. If and when I have some time or the desire, I’ll get to it. But I’ve spent far to much time with you repeated complaints and issues. We get it Wayne, you think we’re all full of bull and spread nothing but bull, and nothing more than whinny NIMBYS, but we’ll see who’s right in the end. Thanks for the input.
By: Dan Fiorito on August 16, 2011
at 12:48 am
p.s. you are not directly affected by anything, not as of yet. Show me proof, show me definitive scientific evidence that your property values will decrease, that you health will be negatively impacted, that the environment will suffer, and I will take notice. But now, this group sounds like a ‘let’s burn fossil fuels’ group until we kill the planet.
By: wayne on August 15, 2011
at 11:39 pm
But at least you have admitted, upon your group, that you are NIMBYs…lol…and you have something better to do than respond to posts on this group?….good for you! that means that this group is unimportant…lol
By: wayne on August 16, 2011
at 12:54 am
I do it to humor you Wayne, it seems to work, kind of reminds me of a certain primate cage they used to have at Chippewa many years ago. And once again, you turn my words into something there not, man I love how you do that, you really should be in politics. A NIMBY is one who stands up for his or her rights when they feel they are being wronged by certain group or groups of individuals, in this case it’s the City, Horizon Wind and the Liberal Government. When one is threatened, perceived or real, once stands up to fight back, then you’re a NIMBY. Well, I guess we are. You seem to be the type of personality that would let the world walk all over them I guess, but that’s just my humble estimate.
By: Dan Fiorito on August 17, 2011
at 10:25 pm
Is that all you can come up with?…is grade school comebacks?….lol
By: wayne on August 18, 2011
at 5:26 am
I figured I’d bring it to a level you’d understand.
By: Dan Fiorito on August 18, 2011
at 11:53 am