By Connor Lynch
NORTH STORMONT — A North Stormont wind-farm opposition group still has its heels dug in, hoping for a reprieve from the provincial government.
The Nation Rise wind farm, a 33-turbine project in North Stormont, has faced opposition from day one from the Concerned Citizens of North Stormont.
Citizen group organizer Margaret Benke has been leading the charge against the wind project. The group is funding an ongoing challenge to the project at the Environmental Review Tribunal, which is not expected to deliver a decision before Jan. 5, 2019.
Already an unwelcome guest to many in the community, the project drew even more ire when it was approved just days before this year’s provincial election was announced. Since the project was originally sought under the Ontario government’s first round of procurement, it was also allowed to use the older, less strict standards for noise. Using the new standards would’ve rejected 23 of the 33 turbines in the project, Benke said.
The province nixed 758 renewable energy projects across the province in July, but the Nation Rise wind farm was not among them. With a contractual requirement of 180 days to cancel the project, Benke said she’s hoping the province will move sooner rather than later.
