By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Despite public pressure, Chatham-Kent will not be designated as an “unwilling host” for future wind turbine development.
At its Nov. 3 meeting council voted against revisiting the issue which put a stop to a motion from Chatham Coun. Amy Finn to join more than 150 Ontario municipalities officially saying no to wind turbines.
Technically, Finn’s motion asked that Chatham-Kent council to not support the establishment of any new wind project procurements under the umbrella of Ontario’s Independent Electrical System Operator.
Because the “unwilling host” issue had been raised by North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville in 2024 and voted down, a two-third vote was needed to bring Finn’s motion to the floor to reconsider.
Of the 17 councillors present, 11 voted in favour of revisiting the matter, including councillors Conor Allin, Lauren Anderson, Michael Bondy, Carmen McGregor, Anthony Ceccacci, Ryan Doyle, Finn, Jamie McGrail, Alysson Storey, John Wright and Jubenville.
The six councillors voting against reopening the issue included Marjorie Crew, Brock McGregor, Aaron Hall, Melissa Harrigan, Trevor Thompson and Mayor Darrin Canniff. Councillor Morena McDonald was absent.
As a result, the motion failed by one vote, as 12 votes were necessary.
Earlier in the meeting, a handful of deputations were presented asking council to declare Chatham-Kent an unwilling host to wind turbine projects. Following the decision to forego revisiting the matter, which negated Finn’s motion, an unidentified man in the council chamber audience shouted out “Shame on you, shame on you.”
Wind turbines in Chatham-Kent has long been a contentious topic in Chatham-Kent. Residents in North Kent (Dover and the former Chatham Township) say their wells were fouled – some rendered unusable due to black water – as a direct result of the construction and operation of wind turbines.
Last month, council voted to quash applications from Capstone Infrastructure and EDF Power Solutions as both companies were seeking permission to build wind turbine farms in East Kent.
Finn, who voted against last year’s motion by Jubenville to designate C-K as an unwilling host to turbines, said she changed her stance because of what’s she recently learned.
“I was in favour previously of allowing farmers to have the choice,” Finn said in her comments. “Learning what I over the last couple of months with regards to the aquifer in East Kent. And knowing what’s happened in other similar areas, I think it’s quite important that we bring this up for discussion.”
It was also pointed out to council during the meeting that the province has yet to reply to the municipality’s request to study the sediment in wells tested in North Kent to see if heavy metals are impacting human health.
