Debate on wind power blows stronger in Sackville

The debate raged for over an hour in council chambers; yet it soon became clear that, when it comes to wind power development in Sackville, a compromise might not easily be reached between the two sides.

Several councillors expressed concerns over the aesthetics and potential health effects of wind turbines; while others pointed to not only the environmental benefits but the economic opportunities that come with wind energy. A couple members of council remained unsure of which way to turn.

But no matter which side of the fence they were on, councillors quickly came to the realization that the municipal zoning bylaw they were about to approve last Tuesday night wouldn't stop wind power from coming to Sackville, it would simply put guidelines in place to regulate the process.

Coun. Merrill Fullerton pointed out that members of council already agreed to encourage local wind power when they unanimously approved the municipal plan back in May, a plan which clearly sets out a policy to support renewable energy alternatives.

Fullerton said he thinks it's too late for councillors to be arguing over the pros and cons of wind energy after they've already okayed a municipal plan that promotes it.

He said they instead should be spending their time setting proper guidelines in place for it to happen because the existing zoning bylaw has no limits or setback regulations around wind turbines.

"As it stands, anyone can put up a wind turbine outside the serviced areas," he said. "So this new bylaw actually puts some needed regulations in place."

Coun. John Higham agreed with his fellow councillor. He said without any municipal regulations, wind farms or turbines could be proposed anywhere within the town's un-serviced area. And he said that's why council chose to add specific wind power guidelines to the proposed zoning bylaw.

"I think council did the responsible thing," he said. "To do nothing would be an abdication of our responsibilities."

Higham explained that the newest changes to the bylaw will restrict the potential for development to a very limited part of town and include stronger setbacks and other protections than what could be imposed by others.

Coun. Margaret Tusz-King said these regulations were developed based on the concerns of local residents, town staff and council.

"It is in our interest to have enough checks and balances in the bylaws to make sure that the health and safety of citizens and wildlife are guaranteed," she said.

She explained that in the proposed bylaw, there is no allowance at all for wind turbines within the R1 (residential serviced) zone.

Turbines will be permitted within the rural residential (R/R), industrial (Ind), and agricultural/conservation (A/C) zones, and each property will be limited to only one small-scale wind turbine. These turbines must be 100 kilowatts or less and set back at a distance of 1.5 times its height away from the nearest property line (as set by provincial guidelines) and no more noisy than 40 decibels (a number recommended by the World Health Organization).

Within the A/C zone, there is allowance for wind farms, defined as a group of wind turbines that can generate more than 3 MegaWatts of electricity. These must be located at least 750 metres away from the nearest residence (or 550 metres away with written consent from all neighbouring property owners).

Tusz-King said that, compared with the provincial distance of 550 m and Colchester County's guidelines of 700 m, the planning commission's recommendation is "more stringent than others."

She also pointed out that the size of 3 MW was chosen because a project of that size automatically triggers an Environmental Impact Assessment, a process that takes into account the noise, environmental effects on birds and wildlife, potential groundwater influences, and potential impacts on human health.

"The Environmental Impact Assessment is a process that is broad, brings in many different community and environmental interests, and ensures that a project be thoroughly investigated for both environmental and social effects."

But several councillors remained unconvinced that wind turbines wouldn't have a detrimental impact on the community.

Coun. Joyce O'Neil said she's concerned over the possible health effects and the unsightly appearance of turbines in the community.

"And I'm not sure whether there's as much benefit to them as we're being led to believe," she said.

Coun. Virgil Hammock said he is most concerned about the impacts from wind farms, not the single turbines, and said he doesn't feel comfortable approving measures to develop wind power before determining how it will affect the community.

"I do not see a place for wind farms in the town," he said. "And when I'm in doubt of something, I'd rather stick with the status quo."

The councillors agreed in a 5-2 vote last week to table both the final reading of the zoning bylaw as well as the motion that calls for changes to the proposed bylaw (setting wind turbine regulations in place) until next month while they receive legal advice on how to proceed.

However, Ron Corbett, director of the Tantramar planning commission, said if council decides to go ahead and approve the zoning bylaw without the recommended changes, then that simply means there will be no regulations in place to guide wind power projects.

Corbett explained the municipal plan already sets a course of action towards wind energy and that would take precedence over the zoning bylaw.

Councillors Mike Tower and Bob Berry said they were both torn over whether wind power is a right fit for Sackville.

"I think wind energy is an option we should look at but we also have to take the neighbours' concerns into consideration," said Tower. "I do believe in green energy but not at the expense of people's livelihoods, their health or for the simple reason of them wanting peace and quiet in their own backyards."

Berry said he supports green energy but isn't yet convinced the proposed setback regulations are far enough away.

"Wind power is going to happen; it's coming folks," he said. "But at the same time, there are people who don't like the turbines or the noise they emit . . . and I can appreciate the people who don't want them in their backyards. I think we can move them back further to provide more of a buffer."

Coun. Bruce Phinney also voiced his concerns, noting that the only ones who will profit from the wind projects will be the investors.

"I just don't see where it's going to benefit the whole community."

But Tusz-King argued there are plenty of reasons to encourage wind power.

"We all benefit by reducing our emissions," she stressed. "And the fact is, we all need to participate in change. The status quo is not an option anymore."

Living in a world of unsustainable production and use of electricity and fossil fuels, everyone needs to lower the amount of energy they use and improve how they produce energy, said Tusz-King.

And she is confident these new guidelines in the proposed bylaw represent a "step in the right direction, toward enabling citizens to participate in greening our world and ensuring that we be careful and caring in the process."

Fullerton and Higham both pointed out that there is not sufficient data to support the claims that wind turbines have negative health impacts on the local population and that debating the merits of wind power versus other forms of energy should be left to the experts, not municipal councils.

And they both said implementing stricter setback regulations or prohibiting wind farm activity altogether would send a signal that Sackville has no interest in developing that sector.

"To me, that would be devastating for the community and for future generations," said Fullerton.