Remembering Newell Hastings
Plympton-Wyoming’s wind bylaws struck down
May 29, 2014
Plympton-Wyoming’s bylaws keeping industrial wind turbines two-kilometers from homes and imposing $200,000 deposits on turbines have been struck down by an Ontario Superior Court Judge.
Suncor Energy has a contract with the province for a 100 megawatt, 46-turbine project in Plympton-Wyoming. The municipal council has taken a strong stand against them, including passing the two-kilometer setbacks and the deposit fees. But Suncor objected taking the municipality to court.
Late last week, the Judge released his ruling, saying the two-kilometer setback and the deposit were out of the municipality’s control. But the judge says municipality can act to protect its residents health.
Mayor Lonny Napper, in a news release, says council has acted promptly in response to the court ruling, and has given first reading to new by-laws related to noise, fees, insurance protection and removal costs.
Napper has said in the past the municipality will council will enforce provincial noise levels. “Based on the information we have, we don’t think any wind company will be able to consistently comply,” says Napper. “Given that we intend to enforce our bylaws, wind companies should probably look to build somewhere else.”
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Remembering Newell Hastings
June 14, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Sunday, Newell Hasting’s service to King and Country over a century ago was remembered in a peaceful church cemetery near Watford. Hasting was born in Petrolia and his family moved to Watford around the turn of the century. He signed up to serve in the miltia with Watford’s 149th Battalion before being called up for service. He
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Sidewalk projects around First Ave this summer
June 13, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Sidewalks along First Street in Petrolia will be getting an upgrade once school is out for the summer. It’s part of the latest large project to improve the town’s sidewalk system. In 2023, BM Ross and Associates completed a study on Petrolia’s sidewalk system and found it lacking. It suggested $1.5 million in sidewalk construction was needed
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Aamjiwnaang evacuates parts of community as INEOS decommissioning increases benzene levels
June 13, 2025
Leaders of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation are evacuating residents between Churchill Road and Tashmoo Ave after high levels of benzene have been detected in the area. Just before noon Friday, INEOS Styrolutions issued a notice saying hourly benzene emissions have been detected about 0.021 parts per million. The company is decommissioning the plant which is within eyesight of Aamjiwnaang’s band
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St Philip’s student wins big at national fair
June 13, 2025
The Independent Ben Harper made a splash at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton taking home a bronze medal. The Grade 8 student from St. Philip’s in Petrolia presented his climate-focused project called A Wavy Problem – Navigating the Surges of Climate Change last week and won a bronze medal in his division. The Petrolia student tested six different offshore
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