Opponents of wind turbines launch GoFundMe campaign to help with legal costs 

MANVERS TWP – Opponents of industrial wind turbines planned for Manvers Township are appealing to the public to help them continue their legal battle to keep the huge turbines out of their community.

But, that fight, which has lasted six years has drained their finances.

Paul Reid of Manvers Wind Concerns, a community-based group of citizens trying to stop the turbines from being built emailed This Week on Thursday (Feb. 25) to say the group has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with legal costs.

The target is $15,000 and the money is needed within the next month or so, he said.

Ward 16 Coun. Heather Stauble also emailed with an update on the three projects, which would see 15 mega-turbines built. She noted all of the wind projects are located in whole or in part on the provincially-protected Oak Ridges Moraine.

All three projects have received provincial approval and are now in various stages of Appeal;

-wpd Canada’s Sumac Ridge, planned for Ballyduff Road south of Highway 7A) is under appeal to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change;

-Capstone Infrastructure’s Snowy Ridge (north of 7A) is under Appeal to the Minister.

-Capstone Infrastructre’s Settlers Landing (west of Pontypool) is adjourned until April 18.

Coun. Stauble offered her thanks to everyone who has contributed time, money and/or expertise to the fight. “It has gone a long way,” she wrote. “The impact on the environment and health of those in the community has been the driving force in these legal arguments – well worth fighting for.”

Mr. Reid noted, “We are particularly concerned by the dangerous siting of these 46-storey structures so close to homes and schools, and the health problems from audible and infra sound that have been reported across the province. Only 30 per cent efficient, industrial wind turbines are not ‘green”and it has been proven that they do not reduce fossil fuel emission levels.”

He said the community has raised almost $300,000 from private donations over the last six years “to help cover the costs of educating the public about the proven negative realities of the industrial wind energy programs in Ontario, and to cover the legal costs of Environmental Review Tribunals.

“Two of these have resulted in partially favourable decisions as we fight to preserve the environmentally sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine, but we are now financially drained and are asking for help to cover the last round of legal costs. We simply can’t just walk away while the wind companies grind us down with motion after motion.”

Mr. Reid noted the community has fought too long and hard to give up now.

“We have tried to go it alone and would be most grateful for help for this last push.”

Coun. Stauble asked that people to consider giving whatever contributions they can. “Contributions big or small are very welcome.”

If you’d like to help, visit the GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/gzpxr22k.

Contributions may also be made directly to Manvers Wind Concerns. For more information contact manverswindconcerns@gmail.com or Coun. Stauble at hstauble@city.kawarthalakes.on.ca.