THUNDER BAY – It has been a fight that has taken many hours of research, countless presentations to City of Thunder Bay officials, and many public meetings. The Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee is now reaching out to Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro thanking the MPP for his efforts.
Here is the text of an ‘Open Letter’ the group sent to Mr. Mauro:
September 8th, 2011,
On behalf of the Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee, I want to thank you for your action regarding the industrial wind farm proposed by Horizon Wind Inc. on the Nor’Wester Mountains and the Loch Lomond Watershed. Minister Jeffrey’s statement that she has “serious concerns about the effect the proposed project could potentially have on the recovery of Peregrine Falcons in Ontario”, and “that this site is not appropriate for the type of development currently proposed by Horizon” are highly appreciated and a welcome relief to our community that government leaders are listening to constituents voicing these same concerns.
As you well know and understand, the NMEPC has been actively engaged in opposing industrial wind turbine development on the Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment. Since the project was first made public two years ago, dozens of deputations were made to Thunder Bay City Council by articulate, well informed citizens and professionals, and hundreds of Letters to the Editor, letters to government agencies, and letters to the proponent, Horizon wind Inc. were written – all strongly opposed to wind turbine development on the Nor’Westers.
In brief, Thunder Bay residents will not accept any destructive impact to this environmentally sensitive, majestic, iconic and historically important mountain range. This is not a NIMBY response. We remain fully appreciative of the intent of the Green Energy Act and the selection of other sites proposed or already in development in this region such as the Greenwich Lake Wind Farm in Dorion Township. Opposition to the proposed Horizon Wind Inc. site is based on serious, sound and professional understanding of the economic and environmental reasons why an industrial wind turbine development would be devastating to the Nor’Westers (and Loch Lomond Watershed) and detrimental to our Thunder Bay area.
Your recent actions are a huge step in re-assuring Thunder Bay residents and our NMEPC that Horizon’s proposed project will not proceed on this site.
The Fort William First Nations voiced resounding disapproval at their Horizon Wind Inc. “Open House” earlier this year. Now, it remains enormously important that our Liberal Government confirm to all parties that industrial wind turbine development will not be allowed on the Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment and Loch Lomond Watershed.
Thunder Bay residents look forward to visits from Premier Dalton McGuinty and other members of our government to re-assure this community that their concerns have been heard and that they will not be disappointed.
Thank you again for all of your efforts in this matter.
Irene Bond
John Beals
Mike Payne
Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee
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