Hub Staff
Following a unanimous vote, years of strife and a lack of information from UNIFOR and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), Saugeen Shores Council will require Town staff to hire a third party to complete acoustic testing on the industrial wind turbine at UNIFOR’s Family Education Centre.
In a motion put forth by Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau, seconded by Councillor Cheryl Grace the motion insists the third party audit is necessary as the MOECC has demonstrated a “longstanding reluctance” to take steps to ensure that the turbine is operating “in accordance with relevant regulations”.
Information acquired through a 2013 Freedom of Information request conducted by Saugeen Turbine Operation Plan (STOP) showed that the turbine may be operating in exceedance of allowable noise levels according to its certificate of approval.
On October 5, 2016 the MOECC advised UNIFOR to deliver the results of an acoustic audit by no later than June 30, 2017. UNIFOR hired acoustic data collectors Jade Acoustics, who have been conducting preliminary tests since the spring of 2016. In a deputation to Council March 13, Greg Schmalz of STOP said that Jade Acoustics reported “no good data” from the preliminary testing.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change, MPP Glen Murray’s response to a letter sent to the MOECC from Saugeen Shores Council in October, 2016 was included in the agenda.
In regard to a noise screening assessment by the Ministry, Murray said, “staff have conducted a number of noise measurements at the UNIFOR site. Due to high background noise, the Ministry has been unable to confirm any non-compliance noise issues with the wind turbine.”
Schmalz said that the “backround noise” consisted of waves, birds and insects and he suggested the Ministry force UNIFOR to do a Section D audit test, which has an “algorithm to keep out the extra sounds”.
“All we ask for in this is fair testing, let the chips fall where they lay. We don’t agree with the rules, we’re just stuck with them,” said the passionate Schmalz, adding “Let’s test together with UNIFOR openly so that all of the data collected is shared.”
In October 2016, Saugeen Shores Council also sent a letter regarding the lack of information from acoustic testing and compliance to the Ontario Ombudsman. Mayor Mike Smith said on March 13 that the Ombudsman is still investigating and that it is encouraging that they’re taking it on and “hopefully they agree with us.”
See: Turbine noise audit delays sparks letter to Ombudsman
Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau is not under the impression that the third party acoustic data will impact decision making by the MOECC or UNIFOR, “but it will allow us to better say whether this turbine is operating in compliance of the law and that’s important for the community to know.”
The motion suggests that Town of Saugeen Shore staff work with members of STOP to find an appropriate third party tester. According to Schmalz, in 2014 Saugeen Shores residents used an environmental engineering company to test three homes for three weeks charging less than $15,000.
Greg Schmalz of STOP during his delegation to Council March 13.