A group of people directly affected by a proposed wind energy project south of Fort Macleod have concerns about its impact on their lives and livelihoods.
They appeared as a delegation at the Jan. 25 MD of Willow Creek council meeting to express those concerns.
The Willow Ridge Wind Project involves construction and operation of a 204.6-megawatt project including wind power generation plants, transmission lines and substation, located approximately 7.2 kilometres south of Fort Macleod on privately-owned lands within 8-26-4, 8-25-4, 7-26-4, and 7-25-4, with a construction footprint of about 86 hectares, or 212.5 acres, and an operational footprint of about 37 hectares, or 91 acres.
Land owner Alex Van Herk said the project is currently before the Alberta Utilities Commission.
“A board I feel has way too much power,” Van Herk said of the AUC, adding the authority should be given back to the municipality.
Van Herk explained 54 residents are directly affected within a two-kilometre radius of the project.
“This project is affecting too many residents and should be stopped,” Van Herk said.
Van Herk pointed out the project will never generate enough energy to offset its carbon footprint.
It would be built too close to residences and roads, and there will be an economic impact.
“Our property values will be decreased,” Van Herk said.
Van Herk noted the impact of windmills on mental health is also unknown.
“It’s not good, it’s not healthy,” Van Herk said.
Another impact that is unknown is the effect of vibration on local water wells.
Van Herk is also a hunter and has seen the migration of mule deer forced out by existing wind projects.
Van Herk concluded with concerns about the effect on a local air strip and on crop spraying; about the risks of fires; and about who is liable if something happens.
“We’re asking the council to fight this project,” Van Herk said. “This has to be stopped.”
Leslie Ann Hornberger, another land owner, had four questions for council: did the MD of Willow Creek give permission to put underground cables in municipal rights-of-way; will the setbacks from windmills be changed; will there be security for reclamation taken through the land use by-law; and what about taking good agricultural land out of production?
Jim Caldwell owns an airplane runway in the area, and has since 1969. He said there are five windmills that would be too close to the runway.
“You don’t want someone to fly into one,” Caldwell said, adding it is easier than one would think it would happen.
Caldwell said there is a good chance he would have to abandon his runway when the windmills go up and he feels he shouldn’t have to.
Another land owner expressed concerns about the effect of the project on his property values; how birds will not survive the windmills; and effect of the constant sound of whirring blades when they are going.
Coun. Glen Alm agreed with Van Herk about the AUC, and the MD of Willow Creek is working to try to change that.
“We feel we are in a very poor situation as the land-use planner for this area,” Alm said.
Diane Horvath, a planner from the Oldman River Regional Services Commission, said the MD of Willow Creek can only regulate what is not covered by the AUC.
One of those things is the setback from municipal roads. The municipality can look at reasonable setbacks and what it is trying to protect.
However, setbacks from residences are covered by the AUC’s rules.
Horvath went through proposed changes council was looking at, including increase those setbacks to not less than 7.6 metres, or 25 feet, from all property lines not fronting on or adjacent to a municipal roadway as measured from the rotor’s arc; not less than 300 metres from a dwelling unit within the wind farm project boundary; and not less than 800 metres from a dwelling unit not within the wind farm project boundary.
Chief administrative officer Derrick Krizsan explained the MD of Willow Creek’s by-law states that transmission lines must be on private land not on municipal road allowances or rights-of-way.
Krizsan cited two recent examples where council denied use of municipal rights-of-way, a Stavely solar project and a solar project near Granum.
Fran Van Driesten asked if there was anything about the effect of vibration on water wells or if they are disturbed during construction.
Van Driesten also is concerned about the flashing red lights on windmills at night, which she described as “awful.”
Krizsan responded they can ask for the location of wells, while Horvath said she had to check it out but believed there is technology on the windmills that mitigates the red lights.
Alm said council will hold a public hearing on the proposed changes the municipality’s making and encouraged everyone to provide feedback.
Coun. Earl Hemmaway said council’s hands are tied, with the AUC making the decisions.
We’re not the only ones in this fight, the whole province is in this fight,” Hemmaway said. “We’re here for you guys.”
Krizsan pointed out the land being used is privately owned and it is land owners who enter into these agreements.
He urged land owners to educate themselves before signing any agreements with energy companies, because the agreements are long lasting.
It was also noted the MD of Willow Creek and the land owners individually and as a group, have registered as intervenors on this project with the utilities commission, so they will express their concerns there.
