Multi-Mui
Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Chesley Fire Hall
211 1% Ave N, Chesley
Chesley, Ontario
MINUTES.
ipal Wind Turbine Working Group
‘A meeting of the Multi Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group was held on Thursday,
November 13, 2014 at the Chesley Fire Hall.
The following Members of the Group were present:
Name Municipality Posi
Mark Davis ‘Arran-Elderslie Deputy Mayor (Chair)
‘Stewart Halliday Grey Highlands Councillor (Vice-Chair)
Keith Stelling ‘Arran-Elderslie ‘Appointed Citizen
Dave Ro} Bluewater Councillor
‘Anne-Louise Gibbons Brockton Councillor
Tan Gibbons Brockton ‘Appointed Citizen
Brian Barnim Central Huron Councillor
Terry McKa\ Chatsworth Deputy Mayor
Scott Mackey Chatsworth Councillor
Tony Clark Chatsworth ‘Appointed Citizen
‘Alan Barfoot Georgian Bluffs Mayor
Dwight Burley Georgian Bluffs Deputy Mayor
Paul McQueen Grey Highlands Deputy Mayor
Betsy Stewart Northern Bruce Peninsula | Councillor
Linda Weatherhead Northern Bruce Peninsula | Citizen
Carol Lawrence West Grey Councillor
The following members of Staff were present:
Teresa Gowan Arran-Elderslie Secretary
Bill Palmer
Others in attendance were:
Warren Howard
Joseph Leung
‘André den Tandt
Jean Cechovsky
Bonnie Roy
Dave Hemingway
Lynn Szymezko
ny Stewart
Lorrie Gillis
Saugeen Shores
North Perth
Meaford
Meaford
Arran-Elderslie
Bluewater
Central Huron
North Bruce
Grey Highlands
Grey Highlands
Technical Advisor
Page 1 of 9
Muiti-Munleipal Wind Turbines
Working Group Meeting Minutes
November 13, 2014ADOPTION OF THE 2nd REVISED AGENDA
Moved by: Tony Clark
Seconded by: Paul McQueen
That the 2nd Revised Agenda for the Multi-Municipal Wind Turbines Working
Group meeting of November 13, 2014 be received and adopted as distributed
by the Recording Secretary. Carried
DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS:
No disclosures of pecuniary interests were made by the Committee.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by: Paul McQueen
Seconded by: Tony Clark
That the Multi-Municipal Wind Turbines Working Group adopt the minutes of
the last Committee Meeting held October 9th, 2014, as circulated.
Carried
DELEGATIONS
4.1. Warren Howard spoke about the Plympton-Wyoming Building Permit By-
law Number 46 of 2014 which is a new by-law respecting Construction,
Demolition and Change of Use Permits and Inspections. This by-law
Includes information on liability insurance required for wind turbine
permits as well as an agreement with regard to decommissioning of the
wind turbine. Currently Plympton-Wyoming doesn't have their own
Bullding Inspector, therefore, they use Lambton County's Building
Inspector. Warren Howard stated that he had previously circulated the
Plympton-Wyoming’s By-Law Number 62 of 2014 being a by-law to
provide for the regulation of wind turbine noise within the Town of
Plympton-Wyoming. Warren stated that this was an interesting approach
as it was developed under a Judge's order stating that Plympton-
‘Wyoming and Suncor were to sort this out between them, and now it has
been finalized into this by-law. There are 3 types of noise noted in the
by-law, audible (which enforces a Provincial standard), low frequency
noise which has been banned, and infrasound noise which has also been
banned, They will be using audible noise and if an offence under the by-
law ends up in Court then they'll use testing by an acoustical statistician.
4.2 Warren Howard provided an update on FIT Contract Cancellations. The
Province has been canceling FIT Contracts. On the OPA website, it shows
a list of projects which will be cancelled. Currently there are quite a few
projects on technical review.
4.3. Warren Howard advised that the IESO came to North Perth Council last
week and gave a presentation. North Perth Council asked IESO "how are
you going to reduce costs?" IESO replied that every hour of every day
they choose the cheapest provider and that they are working within the
constraints of the Government. IESO stated that wind power is valuable
when the resource is available (when the wind is blowing.) They stated
Page 2 of 9
‘Multi-Munteipal Wind Turbines
Working Group Meeting Minutes
‘November 13, 201444
45
that wind power helped last winter when everything was frozen. IESO
encouraged North Perth Council to bring in other people to the meeting,
so Warren asked for an agricultural representative and Bill Palmer
attended. Warren stated it was a civil discussion but IESO got the
message that North Perth and the community is not in favour of wind
turbine projects,
Warren Howard stated he joined in on a webinar regarding regional
Municipal Electricity Planning. They are asking for comments by
November 19, 2014. Part of Perth is in the Waterloo Wellington Planning
Region but most of the communities in the Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine
Working Group would be in the Grey Bruce Huron Planning Region.
Yesterday Warren received an email to send comments on local
consulting plan for the area covering Kitchener, Cambridge, Guelph,
Waterloo and North Perth. They are suggesting that 16 people represent
the various areas, Warren wondered how does 16 people represent such
large areas. Warren said that if anyone wants to give comments on this,
please go to the OPA website and post them there.
‘Andre Den Tandt spoke on the Health Canada Study and Denise Wolfe's
synopsis. Andre provided the Committee with a handout setting out a
rough summary of Denise Wolfe's comments as well as Andre's
comments on the Study. Denise Wolfe's summary raised a number of
issues that point to the fact that the Health Canada Study is an unreliable
document.
+ The sound measurements were taken during the summer when wind
speeds are the lowest in the year. Therefore, extrapolating and
modeling are required to compensate for wind speeds, which reduces
reliability of the results.
+ The number of dwellings included in the Study was set at 2,000 but
434 were "non-valid” dwellings but no reason was stated why they
were "non-valid", were they vacant, abandoned or demolished?
Therefore the reliability of the results were significantly
compromised.
+ The Study selected dwellings in 10km radius. This is problematic
because the dwellings farthest from wind turbines are highly over-
represented and there are only a few dwellings at the lower limit of
600 meters. Counting all of the latter, as opposed to just a random
sample of the outer ones, does little to reduce the bias in favour of
the more remote ones. There is no data on varying effects at
various distances.
+ No children under 18 were included in the Study. Children are just
as affected as adults. The effects in formative years may possibly be
more significant.
+ The Study used modeling rather than discrete measurements to try
correcting the uncertainty caused by extrapolation. This can greatly
reduce the reliability of the results.
Poge 3 of 9
‘Mutti-Municipal Wind Turbines
Working Group Meeting Minutes
‘November 13, 2014+ There was no references to specific types of wind turbines or more
importantly, the size of turbines, Recently installed turbines are
much larger and taller that earlier ones. Expected noise levels are
bound to have different characteristics.
Andre's observations after reading the Study:
+ There is a failure of basic logic in the Study. The Study
acknowledges that wind turbine noise causes annoyance and it also
acknowledges that annoyance can produce serious health effects, but
the Study’s conclusion finds no link between IWTs and health effects.
This is an inconsistency.
+ Problem with term "annoyance." In common terms it's a minor
thing, in medical terms it is a serious condition.
+ In the Study's conclusion it states that there is no effect on health
from noise. The word "noise" is never omitted. The day after the
Study was published CANWEA's president omitted the word by
stating there was no health effect from Industrial Wind Turbines.
Owen Sound Sun Times’ headline also omitted the word "noise."
+ There was no mention of infrasound in the Study. Infrasound is
complex and makes it hard to study, It follows land contours, and is
dependent on temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure. 3.5
hours of measurements per dwelling is not sufficient for infrasound.
One month ago Germany determined that infrasound originates when
the blade passes the stem, the sudden change in air pressure causes
the blade to vibrate, the bigger the blade the more powerful the
infrasound wave. Omitting infrasound is the fatal flaw in the Health
Canada Study.
5. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
5.1 Further discussion of "best practices.” In light of the recent Health
Canada Study release, Stewart Halliday decided to defer this issue to the
December meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
6.1 Discussion of recently released Health Canada Study.
farren Howard stated that this Study is so bad and it's so full of holes,
's actually good for people who are fighting wind turbine projects. The
people of Ontario will know the Study doesn't make sense. Dr. Hazel
Lynn spoke about her concerns with the Study in the Owen Sound Sun
Times and Robert McMurtry did an interview on Goldhawk denouncing the
Study. Today, Dr. John Harrison from Queens University put forth his
critique. I think Health Canada is concerned that there are so many
people speaking out about the Study. There are so many problems with
the Study. The vacant home numbers, they have ignored the reason why
they are vacant. They have included Leaseholders in the Study, which
are people who are being paid by leasing their land and who cannot
criticize wind turbines because it's in their Lease, so why is this group is in
their Study? Collette McLean in Windsor was a Respondent in the Study
and her comments were that: the survey took place in the summer and
Page 4 of 9
Maiti-Municpal Wind Turbines
Working Group Meeting Minutes
November 13, 2014‘one of the questions asked was has wind turbines "disturb the subject's
sleep in the last 30 days?" This has no meaning for the key problems.
The question should have been "have you experienced any sleep
disturbances within the last year?" With regard to proven science, a
study is never released without it being peer reviewed first. Health
Canada also released a Summary of Results which would normally be
released after the peer review has been done. The Study did find a health
ue and they called it "annoyance." We should focus on the flaws in the
Study and keep raising these flaws to show that the Study is not credible.
There are a team of people reviewing the Study, including Denise Wolfe.
When Health Canada Study is not done properly, people should complain
to their local MP.
Ginny Stewart stated that she thinks the message should go out to the
urban people because this Study cost $20 Million to promote the wind
industry and to cover their own agenda.
Mark Davis said that most sick people who have been affected by wind
turbines have moved away. Mark told Larry Miller, MP for Bruce-Grey-
Owen Sound that these people need to be tracked down and ask them
exactly why did they move away.
Keith Stelling stated that Carmen Krogh has put out a paper that the
Government manipulated the Study and that Health Canada has been
populated by wind company people. Can we ever trust Health Canada
again? This Is very serious because Health Canada focuses on health
issues for all Canadians and this Study shows that Health Canada now has
a problem with credibility. We need to focus on the quality of the Study
and how bad it really is.
Mark Davis asked the Committee if we should be writing a letter and
make a comment on this Study?
Bill Palmer stated that there should be an association between the
number of decibels produced and the physical results in a specific number
of people being affected, and if the decibels increase then the number of
people affected would also increase. The Health Canada Study shows no
association. The Study is not recognizing that people are different.
Lorrie Gillis stated that Carmen Krogh's study is important. Carmen has
made association between Health Canada and industries. There are
people who have symptoms like vibrations in their chest and nosebleeds.
"Annoyance" in medical terms means distress and it's a serious issue.
Bill Palmer stated that you can go after the politicians, but you've got to
get to the public to change the laws.
Page 5 of 9
Multi-Munteipal Wind Turbines
Working Group Meeting Minutes
‘November 13, 2014Brian Barnim asked about the economics. There a number of large
chicken farmers who are putting in natural gas systems to heat their large
chicken barns because electricity costs are too high to heat their chicken
barns,
Bill Palmer mentioned that apparently Honda said they would stay in
Canada only if they got money from the Government to help with their
electricity costs because those costs are too high.
Ginny Stewart said she lives among IWTs. She's been living near them
for 3 years. "I have a lot of physical symptoms. When I'm home I get
pressure in my ears, ringing in the ears, at night when I'm in bed, I get
vibrations in my chest. Some nights are horrendous." "I told Paul
McQueen in July that I've gotten a lot of nosebleeds. I've had 20
nosebleeds since July, and on Oct 8th I got my nose cauterized, but I've
had 2 nosebleeds since, so 1 may have to have my nose cauterized
again." "I'm part of the SWEAR organization and I will be going to
London for four nights and I'm looking forward to being away from my
home because my symptoms go away and I have no nosebleeds when I'm
away from home." "It's instant relief when I'm away from home." "My
doctor is very supportive. T have an appointment with an ear nose and
throat specialist, but that’s not until May 2015."
Mark Davis asked Keith to write a letter about these concerns. In order to
expedite this letter, Mark asked the Committee if Keith wrote the letter
and Mark and Stewart signed the letter, would it be acceptable for the
letter to be sent out without being circulated to all the participating
municipalities’ councils for approval? The Committee verbally agreed to
this process.
The Committee stated that the letter should go to:
Health Canada
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
All local MPs and MPPs
Rona Ambrose
Dr. Hazel Lynn
Include the names that were included in Carmen Krogh's Nov 10th letter
The letter should also go to the Editors of the following papers:
‘The Owen Sound Sun Times
Grey Bruce This Week
The Post (Hanover)
West Grey Progress
The Focus (Huron County) - Contact Brenda MacIssac, Clerk for Central
Huron for papers in Central Huron
Lakeshore Advance
Exeter paper
Goderich paper
Page 6 of 9
‘Muiti-Municipal Wind Turbines
Working Group Meeting Minutes
‘November 13, 20146.2
6.3
inton paper
Seaforth paper
Blyth paper
Shoreline Beacon (Port Elgin)
Kincardine Independent
Meaford Express
Tobermory Press
Warren Howard said the letter should focus on real people who are
suffering.
Ginny Stewart said that people who have been physically impacted from
wind turbines have spent a lot of time to be credible in letting people
know how they are suffering, because people don’t want to believe there
are health issues. This Health Canada Study took all this credibility away
that all sufferers have built. Now all the people I've talked to and
convinced and told them about my symptoms, will look at the Health
Canada Study and now they will not believe me with what I've been
suffering through.
Carol Lawrence asked if this letter would be coming directly from
MMWTWG instead of from each Council? Because there will be a lengthy
delay in coming down from Councils given the fact that recent elections
will have new Councils and new members of MMWTWG will need to be
appointed,
Mark Davis asked the Comi
directly from MMWTWG?"
jttee "Is that acceptable that this letter come
The Committee provided a verbal agreement that the letter come directly
from the MMWTWG so that a quick response can be put forth to deal with
the Health Canada Study.
Stewart Halliday to discuss Capstone Power Development using Health
Canada study. Capstone put out a letter and a brochure and in the
material they referred to the Health Canada Study to further their
interests in developing IWT project in Grey Highlands. There was a
discussion about accelerated depreciation, Stewart said we have to stop
the accelerated depreciation program that the Federal Government is
offering. We need to get the Conservatives to change their mind on this,
it has to be stopped. Stewart stated at the last AMO meeting we
discussed the accelerated depreciation issue and I would like to sit down
with Larry Miller, MP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and discuss this with
him.
Review of results of Municipal Elections. A copy of the election results
were distribute to the members. Mark Davis addressed the Committee
and said "For those members who will not be returning, we are sorry to
Page 7 of 9
‘Multi-Municipal Wind Turbines
Working Group Meeting Minutes
‘November 13, 2014see you go. Thank you for your input and we thank you for your help.
We wish you all the best in the future and you are always welcome to
attend our meetings as members of the public."
6.4 Reminder for Member Municipalities to forward Resolutions appointing
members to MMWTWG. Mark Davis, the Chair, reminded the Committee
members to advise their Clerks to email the names of the new members
to the Recording Secretary as soon as possible as our next meeting will
be on December 11, 2014. Mark Davis requested the Recording
Secretary to email the Clerks of the participating municipalities and
request the Clerks to send Resolutions appointing members to the
MMWTWG at their December 1st inaugural meeting.
FOR INFORMATION
7.1. Mark Davis asked the Committee if the December 11, 2014 meeting
should proceed. The Committee members stated that new members of
the MMWTWG would likely be appointed at the inaugural meeting on
December 1st, therefore the December meeting should proceed. In the
event that some municipalities appoint members after the December 11,
2014 meeting, those members can join us at the January meeting.
7.2, Dave Hemingway stated that the court case on the Charter challenge on
Health effect of IWTs will be next month in London. There are 14
community groups backing the Charter challenge. The St. Columbian
lawyer said that If we got a stay in London, all the wind turbines in
Ontario will have to be shut down. I will provide the Committee with a
progress report on the court case at the next meeting. If we win, the
wind companies will likely appeal it. What we don't have yet Is a
municipality to put money in to be an intervener at the Supreme Court.
We have over 200,000 people represented at the Charter challenge and
now this Health Canada Study has been released 1-1/2 weeks before the
Charter challenge court case.
7.3. Dave Hemingway stated that on December 11th there is a TVO
documentary "Big Wind" being released. If you recall a while ago a film
crew came to one of our meetings. The documentary is 70 minutes long.
We are looking for fundraising money for the Charter challenge. We do
have permission from the producer to show it early, perhaps we could
show it at the December meeting. TVO will be putting the documentary
out in March 2015. It was recorded using low resolution, hopefully the
new TV screen in this room will be able to show it, Brian Barnim said he
saw the documentary last Tuesday night and it was very good. Mark
Davis asked whether we should send out invitations for the viewing and
also to note that the December meeting will be showing the 70 minutes
documentary. Mark suggested invitations should go to Larry Miller, MP for
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, Ben Lobb, MP for Huron-Bruce, Bill Walker, MPP
for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, and Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce.
Page 8 o
Working Group Meeting Minutes
‘November 13, 20147.4 Lorrie Gillis stated that the documentary "Down Wind" will be shown this
Saturday, November 15, 2014 in Shelburne for fundraising to support the
Charter challenge.
7.5 Dave Roy stated that area farmers are wanting to use natural gas instead
of electricity. Union Gas won't put gas lines down along the collector lines
of industrial wind turbines. K2 asked Hurontario telephone to remove the
sheathing from the fiber optic cables because stray voltage from wind
turbine collection lines could follow the fiber optic cable and travel into
people's homes. K2 said they would pay to have the sheathing removed,
but the telephone company said their utility was installed first. If the
sheathing is removed from the fiber optic cables, then the cables can't be
located.
7.6 Carol Lawrence stated that West Grey lost in Court again. Nextera sent a
draft agreement to West Grey that contained a clause with only $250,000
security which we could not accept so they took us to court again instead
of negotiating with us, West Grey has been ordered by the Court that we
issue permits to wind developers with reasonable conditions. Our next
meeting is on November 17, 2014 so I will update you at the December
meeting.
8. DATE AND LOCATION OF NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING
The next meeting date is scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2014, at 7:00
p.m, at the Chesley Fire Hall, 211 1* Ave. N., Chesley.
9. RESOLUTION TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION AND GENERAL NATURE
THEREOF (includes appointed Councillor(s) and citizen appointee)
Not Required
10. RESOLUTION TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
Not Required
11, ADOPTION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ARISING FROM CLOSED SESSION
(if any)
None
12. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by: Keith Stelling
Seconded by: Dave Roy
‘That the meeting be adjourned to the call of the Chair.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Carried
Original Signed by Original Signed by
Mark Davis, Chair 7 Teresa Gowan, Recording Secretary
Page 9 0f9
‘Mult!-Municipal Wind Turbines
Working Group Meeting Minutes
‘November 13, 2014