As the wind began to howl outside of Blake Hall so did the voices inside the rural community centre as the first of four Horizon Wind open houses got underway.
The company held the open house to present information and receive comments for its draft Renewable Energy Approval for the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park along the Nor’Wester Mountain range. Under heavy security, including three OPP officers at Horizon’s expense, Horizon president Anthony Zwig was confronted by members of the Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee that opposes the project.
Members shouted questions at Zwig until police and private security stood by him and eventually took a five-minute break outside of the hall. Before the open house began, Zwig said the high security presence was a precaution.
"This is a small building and to keep it orderly and to make sure we obey the fire regulations we may need to keep people outside and let them in an orderly fashion," said Zwig. "Just to make sure things are under control."
Zwig said the company has been accommodating concerns raised by NEMPC moving turbine locations farther away from houses and adding extra open houses.
"At a certain point the integrity of the design of the development has to be respected and we’ve made the moves we can and always try to be flexible," said Zwig.
But Lorne Lacey, who lives on Loch Lomond Road, disagreed. Lacey said he built his home in 1988 near the mountain for "peace and quiet." If wind turbines are built near his home, Lacey said he would be forced to leave because of noise, shadow flicker and vibrations.
"These turbines are going to be right on top of my house," Lacey said. "I believe that this whole project is illegal that it’s actually a violation of my constitutional rights."
Reiner Ficker, a resident of Boy Scout Road, said he’s been to wind farms in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Minnesota. While talking to residents in those communities Ficker said he never met anyone who opposed the projects in their backyards. Ficker said most of his neighbours are indifferent.
"They don’t know or they don’t care," Ficker said. "The silent majority is usually at home."
For Ficker, the proposed project will be an "engineering wonder" and he said he wants to see it go forward because of the green energy it will produce.
While concerns about the cost of the project have been raised, Zwig said the company has to pay for all of the transmission lines it needs for the project. Decommissioning will also be paid for by Horizon he said. The province makes sure that the company follows the rules put in place he added.
"A company like ours where just about all of our business is with the Ontario government we have to make sure we’re on side with all of our agreements and that’s where the enforcement comes for decommissioning," Zwig said. "They have very heavy penalties if you don’t follow the plan."
The second open house will be held Thursday at the Lakehead Labour Centre at 6 p.m.
