Municipal Monitor - January/February 2008 - (Page 19)

reads the website’s Eco-Myth page. “Consequently, any field study of ‘avian mortality’ done on a wind farm constructed prior to approximately the year 2000 (maybe a bit later in the United States) is inappropriate for estimating bird mortality based on modern turbine designs.” “Whether by intent or because older studies are more common, opponents of wind power will have cited bird mortality data from studies done before 2000 and, to make their point, are likely to focus on studies done on wind turbines erected in high exposure situations: e.g. in migratory pathways, at mountain passes, near nesting areas, and so on.” January/February 2008 According to the CIELP booklet: “Data consistently shows that birds face more hazardous threats from high-rise buildings, fossil fuel generators, automobiles and even pet cats. While the average turbine kills two birds per year, the environmental effects of continuing to derive our energy from fossil fuels and nuclear power plants have a far greater impact on protection measures than carefully sited wind turbines.” Benefits Beyond the well documented benefits to the province’s environment and the energy needs, wind turbines can have a positive impact on the local economy, particularly during the construction phase. They cost millions of dollars to build and local contractors often get to do the work. The local service industry would also benefit during this phase, although it will all but disappear once the facility is operational. Wind turbines require minimal maintenance, which means few workers will be around to maintain them. Even though turbines cost millions of dollars for developers to acquire and erect, the Ministry of Environment puts an assessment cap of $40,000 on each. In Huron County this means each turbine nets approximately $2,000 in municipal taxes. After the county and school boards get their share only about $400 of that money would trickle down to the township of Ashville-Colborne-Wawanash. “It’s not exactly what you’d call a big tax grab,” Becker says. Landowners who lease portions of their property will make some money. Considering most turbines are erected in rural areas, this amounts to a helpful income supplement for many of the province’s struggling farmers. Decision-makers in the Township of Frontenac Islands negotiated a unique deal with Canadian Renewable Energy Corporation, the subsidiary of Canadian Hydro Developers that wants to erect 86 turbines on Wolfe Island. In addition to paying rent to property owners and taxes to the local municipalities, the township will also receive an amenities deal amounting to $7,500 per turbine each year for five years. This would give a financial shot-in-the-arm to any community, let alone one like Frontenac Islands where the annual operating budget is less than $3 million. “That’s money for capital projects we wouldn’t have been able to afford at all,” says Terry O’Shea, the township’s Clerk and CAO. O’Shea and Vanden Hoek believe the amenities deal their team negotiated is the first of its kind between a municipality and a wind power developer in Canada. “We wanted an arrangement that would benefit all the residents, not just the individual landowners,” the mayor says. “I watched jobs disappear in this community over 30 years. This is the first time we’ve seen it come the other way. It’s exciting.” ◆ municipal MONITOR • 19

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Municipal Monitor - January/February 2008

Municipal Monitor - January/February 2008 Contents President’s Message: Recognizing Achievement Viewpoint: Increasing Voter Turnout Building Bridges The Municipal Buddy System Harnessing the Wind Water Under the Bridge Municipal Memos Index to Advertisers

Municipal Monitor - January/February 2008

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