WEYBURN — An open house hosted by Enbridge turned into a meeting where residents of the RMs of Weyburn and Griffin demanded answers about the proposed wind farm, which will put 46 wind turbines into the RMs just southeast of Weyburn if it goes ahead.
The small meeting room at the Ramada Hotel was set up for an open house, and it was crammed with between 80 and 100 people wanting answers on the proposed development.
Kim Brady stood on a chair and asked for attention, and suggested that people’s questions should be directed to Enbridge representatives, which the gathered crowd agreed to.
“We got snowed here. Most of us are not happy. You need to do a better job and answer questions,” he demanded.
Enbridge representative Keith Taylor, a specialist for renewable products in power business development, took on most of the questions, which ranged from how this deal came about, to what steps the company is taking to address concerns, and what they will be seeking from the RM.
The proposal at this point is to situate 46 wind turbines on land in the RMs of Weyburn and Griffin, with the goal to produce some 200 megawatts of power for the province’s power grid. There are contracts signed with 15 land owners covering some 21,000 acres of land. The central part of the project is located about 16 km southeast of Weyburn, according to Enbridge’s information.
These were signed initially with a former company, EDF, who sold the wind farm project to Enbridge on June 21, and Enbridge is currently in negotiations with SaskPower for a power purchase agreement.
Meantime, Enbridge will be meeting with the RM of Weyburn council in August to request the setbacks be reduced from 1000 metres to 750, which many residents at the meeting expressed disagreement with, questioning why they would want to do that.
Many of the questions and concerns were over the noise levels, the size of the turbines, the damage and dust on RM roads by construction crews, and who has the liability should anything go wrong.
The company stated that the noise level of one turbine is 40 decibels, which Taylor equated to a quiet library.
One resident pointed out that he has a nephew who lives within a mile and a half of the wind farm at Assiniboia, and while it is very quiet underneath the turbine, downwind of it between a half-mile and a mile and a half, the noise can be quite loud.
Another resident commented that wind power is the least efficient and least practical form of power generation, and was concerned about how much taxpayers’ money will be tied up in this project.
Taylor noted it’s mostly private funds invested by Enbridge and a consortium of six First Nations groups. Pressed on this, he said there is a federal loan guarantee of $100 million being provided, and residents pointed out that funds from federal or provincial government sources are from the taxpayers.
As to why a wind farm, Taylor noted that SaskPower is looking for green alternative sources of power, and are looking for more wind and solar projects to help provide this power for the grid.
“SaskPower runs the grid in Saskatchewan, so you have to work with them,” Taylor added.
As to assertions over the health risks from the sounds of wind turbines, he cited a 2014 study by Health Canada, along with “peer-reviewed research”, that say there is very little health risk from the noise of the turbines.
For any current environment concerns, he said the company is conducting environmental studies right now, with the plan to submit an application to the Ministry of the Environment by November of this year.
Among other concerns, one resident noted that this region is known to be on a major migratory route for birds, which will be put at risk by the turbines. The resident noted if he shoots an eagle, for example, he would be prosecuted and fined, but if a turbine hits and kills an eagle, what consequence would there be for Enbridge?
Asked when the original contracts were done with land owners, he said they were first done in 2017, and renewed last summer, before Enbridge bought the project one month ago.
Some residents pointed out that very few of those contracted land owners live anywhere close to where a turbine is going up, and a number expressed anger that only that evening did they find out where the 46 turbines are going.
Jim Hallberg said he just found out he will be “virtually surrounded” by five wind turbines that he didn’t know about in close proximity to his farm east of Weyburn.
On the proposed reduction to the setback, one resident asked if they will seek further reductions, if the RM agrees to a 750-metre setback, such as down to 500 metres. Taylor repeatedly assured him that Enbridge would not seek any further reduction to the setback.
Asked if the project is a “done deal”, Taylor assured residents that it isn’t, as there are many permits and regulatory hurdles to cross, including their application to Environment. This application would be separate from the application to the RM to reduce the setback, he noted, and the permit process would not be done by August when they want the first reading to the amended bylaw on the setbacks.
As to why no RM council representatives were present, Taylor said this project is not theirs and the company would not be cohosting a meeting with them, when it’s Enbridge’s project.
Heather Cugnet said she was on the RM council for 16 years, and noted they met with a company who told them this area was not conducive to being a good place for a wind farm. Taylor said they had a different company study the area for four years, and they are of the opinion that it’s a good location, plus there are other factors like proximity to a power transmission line to hook into SaskPower’s grid.
“This is our first step in presenting the project to the community,” said Taylor, noting they are also consulting with land owners within a two-kilometre radius of the proposed turbine locations.
“You’ve got two or three land owners who are good with this, but you’ve 45 land owners who aren’t,” pointed out a resident.
“That’s why we’re here, to listen to you,” answered Taylor.
