Horizon is surveying the city again!

Credit: Nor'Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee, savethenorwesters.com 29 January 2012 ~~

Translate: FROM English | TO English

The following survey was recorded and transcribe by a local resident and provided to our group [Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee], we do not know the personal stance of this individual on the proposed project.

For statistical purposes what year were you born.

Does anyone in your family or household work in the following areas?

• Public Opinion Research Advertising and Public Relations, Media, Television,
Newspaper, Radio?

1. I would like you to tell me what you feel is the most important issue in the local
community today .

2. Thinking about the last Ontario provincial election in October which political party did
you vote for?

• Conservatives lead by Tim Hudak,
• Liberals lead by Dalton McGuinty,
• or the NDP lead by Andrea Horvath

3. If an Ontario provincial election were held tomorrow which party would you most likely
vote for?

• NDP lead by Andrea Horvath
• Conservatives lead by Tim Hudak
• Liberals lead by Dalton McGuinty

4. If an Ontario provincial election were held tomorrow and Bill Mauro was running for the liberals, Mary Kozyrs for NDP and Fred Gilbert was running for PC who would you most likely vote for? Is there anyone you are leaning towards at this time?

5. Municipal government – did you vote in Thunder Bay`s last city elections in the fall of
2010?

6. How familiar are you with the proposal to build new wind turbines just south of Thunder Bay with the purpose of generating electricity?

This development will be called Big Thunder Wind Farm. Would you say you know a lot about it, little about it, have heard of
it, but don`t know much about it, or have never heard about it.

7. As you may already know a private company called Horizon Wind has leased land with the City of Thunder Bay, this land is located outside of Thunder Bay in the neighbouring municipality of Neebing. On this land Horizon Wind is proposing to build the Big Thunder Wind Park and a number of wind turbines for the purpose of generating electricity. Based on what you know or what you may have heard about the Horizon wind plan, how much do you support or oppose the building of Big Thunder Wind Park?

• strongly support
• somewhat support
• somewhat oppose
• strongly oppose

8. What would you say is the number one most important reason you why you oppose this plan?

9. What is the main argument you have heard in favour of the plan?

10. I am now going to read a number of statements relating to the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park. Now please tell me if hearing this statement would make you

• much more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to oppose
• much more likely to support if the building of the Thunder Bay Wind Park if the project had no impact on your likelihood to oppose or support the Wind Park.

Let`s start with

1. The proposed wind park will boost the local economy 30 direct and 50 indirect jobs and as well as $200,000 per year in fees.and charges (inaudible)..and related taxes to municipal government would you be

• much more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to support
• no impact
• somewhat more like to oppose
• much more likely to oppose the building of the Big Thunder Wind Park

2. The proposed wind farm owners have a signed contract with the Thunder Bay municipal government that gives them a legal right to build the wind farm.

• Would you be much more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to support
• no impact
• somewhat more likely to oppose
• much more likely to oppose the building of the Big Thunder Wind park

3. The entire cost of the project will be funded privately requiring zero tax dollars.

• much more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to support
• no impact
• much more likely to oppose

4. The current wind park proposal is the product of compromise between the proposed wind park owners and local community groups and has significantly modified from the original proposal a year ago to address local interest and concerns.

• much more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to support
• no impact
• somewhat more likely to oppose
• much more likely to oppose

5. There is scientific evidence that the wind park will not affect health, safety, wildlife or the environment

• much more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to support
• no impact
• somewhat more likely to oppose
• much more likely to oppose

6. Regarding the setbacks (but didn’t ask anything about setbacks)

7. Wind power is one of the cleanest forms of energy.

• much more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to support
• no impact
• somewhat more likely to oppose
• much more likely to oppose

8. Proponents of the wind park are a vocal minority who are mainly concerned about the property values of their own homes. A few people with expensive homes should not dictate what is best for the entire community of Thunder Bay.

• much more likely to support
• somewhat more likely to support
• no impact
• somewhat more likely to oppose
• much more likely to oppose

I am going to read to you a number of different people and organizations who may speak out about the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park. Would you please tell me if you consider them to be

• very believable
• somewhat believable
• not very believable
• not at all believable on this topic

We’ll start with

Keith Hobbs, Mayor of Thunder Bay, do you consider him

• very believable
• somewhat believable
• not very believable
• or not at all believable about the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park.

Tony Zwig the owner of Horizon Wind and the proposed Wind Park.