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LUCKNOW Three wind power companies want four families to pay $340,000 in company legal fees after the families lost a court appeal to stop the construction of the wind turbines. The four families say the move is designed to discourage people from appealing future wind turbine projects. The families are fighting the 140-wind turbine K2 Wind Ontario development near Lucknow, a 92-turbine Armow wind project near Kincardine, and the 15-turbine St. Columban project near Seaforth. The families argue that large wind farms are unconstitutional and say they are a health hazard. An appeal panel of three Ontario Divisional Court judges ruled in December that the provinces review tribunal didnt make any errors when it ruled there is no proof there are health hazards from living close to a turbine. The families continue to appeal.
Their lawyer, Julian Falconer, told the Globe and Mail that the wind companies are “blood-sucking, intimidating bullies,” and that the move was a “terror tactic” to send a message: “We will wipe you out if you challenge us.” Lucknow hog and cash crop farmers Shawn and Trisha Drennan are one of the families that are fighting the wind farms. They say the turbines would not only lower property taxes, but the health risks associated with the turbines are too great. They also say that one of the largest substations in Ontario between 50 and 60 acres would be 600 metres away from their house. Four or five 34,000-volt lines would run near their house, as would a 230,000-volt transmission line that would be buried in the ground. According to court documents, one of the turbines would be located 700 metres away from the Drennans house, and 11 more would be within two kilometres.
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