Image

Suncor Energy says Plympton-Wyoming’s new noise bylaw will make it physically impossible to operate the Cedar Point Wind Energy Centre.

The municipality has been throwing up roadblocks to try to stop the multi-national energy company from putting 42 industrial wind turbines in Plympton-Wyoming near Camlachie and Lambton Shores. It has already had one bylaw regulating how far the turbines can be from homes and setting high building permit fees thrown out by a provincial judge.

It’s currently trying to stop the project at an Environmental Review Tribunal Hearing.

Recently the municipality passed a new noise bylaw to ease some of the residents concerns about the project. It was the first bylaw in the province to include regulations around infrasound – low-level sound that some experts believe leads to headaches and sleeplessness in residents who live near the turbines.

Those infrasound regulations are a big problem according to Suncor Manager of Development and Engineering Jody Hood.

“If you follow the definition used (in the bylaw) that includes any sound from 0 to 20 range, it is physically impossible not to emit sound in that range,” Hood told councilors. “All of us in this room are breathing and are creating that noise.”

“When have a bylaw that says there is to be no infrasound that is technically impossible,” he added. “That means we would not be able to operate ….it places a hurdle that is physically impossible to get over.

“In our view, we wouldn’t be able to operate the project nor would anyone be able to operate anything.”

Councilor Netty McEwen wonders why Suncor is only bringing this up now, after the bylaw has been passed. “You were aware we passed this bylaw and we thought there was no problems,” she told Hood.

“All of the concerns here were definitely discussed – they were on that draft,” says Hood noting Suncor’s concerns weren’t addressed.

“We thought we had a pretty good bylaw,” says Mayor Lonny Napper noting the municipality worked with environmental lawyers to craft the document.

Suncor will send a written submission to the municipality of all its concerns so Plympton-Wyoming’s lawyers and council can address them. “We wanted to make sure we knew how you wanted to proceed so we will bring detailed concerns to council and move forward from there.”

 

 

Share This

Image
Sports

Canada White Repeat As Champions Of World U17 Challenge

November 10, 2024

John Wright/The Independent Gavin Betts’ 38 save performance led Canada White to a 3-1 win over Canada Red in the gold medal game at the U17 World Challenge Saturday in Sarnia. The two teams traded chances in a physical first period but neither were able to find the back of the net. Canada White mounted pressure early in the second

Read More

Image
Sports

All Canadian Clash in Gold Medal Game At U17 World Challenge

November 9, 2024

John Wright/The Independent For the first time since 2009, two Canadian teams will meet in the gold medal game of the U17 World Challenge. Canada White beat Sweden 6-4 in the first semifinal Friday in Sarnia. Mathis Preston led the way offensively recording a hat trick and an assist. Special teams continued to a big part of Canada White’s success

Read More

Image
Front Page

Flyers snap losing skid

November 8, 2024

The Petrolia Flyers snapped a mini two game losing skid by beating Lucan, 10-1 Thursday at the Greenwood Recreation Centre. Owen Peters and Andrew Jaques led the winners with four points each. Peters had two goals and two assists and Jaques scored once and added three helpers. Evan Morningstar also scored twice for Petrolia. Parker Davidson, Logan O’Leary-Dilosa, Noel Sanderson,

Read More

Image
Sports

Lancers win Lambton-Kent volleyball titles

November 8, 2024

LCCVI has claimed both the Junior and Senior boys Lambton-Kent volleyball titles. In the Senior game, LCCVI beat John McGregor 3-0, winning the sets 25-19, 25-22 and 25-16 at home. The Juniors defeated the Wolfpack at Great Lakes 3-0. The Lancers won the sets 25-14, 25-18 and 35-14.

Read More