City council passed a compromising position on the locations of a controversial wind farm Monday night.
Coun. Brian McKinnon changed his vote from last Tuesday on 18 turbine locations for the Big Thunder Wind Park bringing a 6-6 losing tie before proposing a resolution approving 14 of the locations which passed 8-4. The decision was made following a closed door session that lasted over two hours. McKinnon said the decision, which requests moving four turbines including one closest to Loch Lomond Ski Area, is a good compromise. The resolution also removed easements for roads which were included in last Tuesday’s 7-5 decision.
"I was not satisfied with those four towers they always bothered me they were right in the view of the people at Loch Lomond," McKinnon said. "I think it’s going to satisfy a lot of people."
But while she sees some positive signs for the city by removing road easements, NorWester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee spokesperson Irene Bond said her group is still disappointed.
"Moving turbines, four of the 18, and approving the other locations it’s not what we wanted," Bond said early Tuesday morning at city hall. "We’re really going at it blind and at 2:30 in the morning to be moving four turbines I don’t think is a very good approach."
Bond said she thinks the city was under extreme pressure from Horizon Wind to sign off on locations but a proper viewshed of the impact of the turbines hasn’t been seen.
"We don’t need these on the front of our escarpment," Bond said.
Coun. Mark Bentz, who voted against the original motion last week, voted in favour of the new resolution.
"I’m quite happy with it. Is it what the folks in the gallery (NMEPC members) want? Probably not but I think it is a move in the right direction," Bentz said. "These were the towers that were going to create the most imposition for the residents."
Coun. Aldo Ruberto said he still wasn’t satisfied with the locations of the turbines before voting against the resolution.
"It’s not about wind power it’s all about location," Ruberto said.
Coun. Linda Rydhom, Coun. Joe Virdiramo and Coun. Frank Pullia also voted against the resolution.
