The 11th hour- Documentary

This documentary narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio outlines the upcoming serious problems in the climate, but also presents strong positive suggestions about turning the last chance to save the environment into our finest hour.
Here is a preview.

and also visit the website at 11th Hour Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need wind power?

Much of Ontario’s smog and greenhouse gasses come from massive coal burning generators, the biggest air polluters in Canada. If we could generate 26% more clean energy, the coal burners could go on standby, meeting the Ontario’s goal of moving off coal. Large turbines in windy locations generate the cheapest clean energy available. Although Ontario has some of the best wind power potential in the world, we lag far behind other countries in Europe, and even States like Texas. We in Canada also use the most energy per person in the world, and Canada received more "Fossil" awards than any other country in 2008 for blocking progress on climate change.

Click on the above video to see how Ontario could be a world leader in clean energy, according to David Suzuki and Herman Scheer.

What about birds?

A recently published report in Nature confirmed that the greatest threat to bird populations is climate change. Night lighting is a far bigger concern. In Toronto alone, an annual estimated 10,000 birds die from colliding with buildings. Large, slow-moving wind turbines have not been shown to affect birds in any significant way. Toronto’s Lakeshore turbine, despite dense seagull and goose populations, harms fewer birds than an average house cat. The Caledon wind project has a bird study underway and early results are very positive.

Are wind turbines quiet?

Modern turbines are slow and quiet. Outside the nearest houses, which are ½ kilometer away, the sound of a wind turbine generating electricity is likely to be about the same level as a flowing stream about 50-100 metres away or the noise of leaves in a gentle breeze. Also, turbines must meet the stringent noise standards set by the Ministry of Environment. Click here to watch a video of the Transalta wind farm and hear for yourself!

How safe are wind turbines?

Wind energy has no emissions, harmful pollutants or waste products. Turbines must be set back ½ kilometre from houses according to standards set by the Town of Caledon. They automatically shut down in unsafe conditions such as icy weather. In comparison, smog, primarily from coal burners, is estimated to kill 1000 people a year in Ontario.

Is wind power expensive?

Two recent energy cost studies found wind energy to be equal to or cheaper than coal when factoring in smog related health care costs.

Why not put all turbines on the Great Lakes?

We need as many of these projects as possible to get off dirty coal burners. A mix of large and small turbine installations in a number of communities provides steady wind power and a more stable grid.

Is Caledon planning big wind farms?

No, Caledon is more likely to grow several three to five turbine community scale projects.

How strong is the electromagnetic field?

Testing of the CNE wind turbine show that the magnetic field at 10 feet from the wind turbine and is less than the magnetic field from your hair dryer, and immeasurable from 100 feet away. Learn more.

Links

Ontario Green Energy Act

In 2006, Premier McGuinty set a precedent in North America by introducing the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program - the most progressive green energy initiative in more than twenty years.

In that same year the Ontario Power Authority began work on the Integrated Power System Plan – a 20-year plan that will determine how Ontario’s electricity system will evolve.

A great start. But not enough to get us where we need to go.

We need the Ontario Green Energy Act to propel Ontario into a leadership position in renewable energy, to reduce our pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, to create meaningful jobs for Ontarians and to enhance community economic development for rural, remote and First Nations communities.
Green Energy Act Alliance

Ontario Agency for Heatlh Protection article on Wind Turbine Safety

Ontario’s Public Health Agency has put together a report examining scientific evidence on the safety of wind turbines. You can find it here:  Wind Turbines and Health- a review of evidence

Benefits of Clean Energy

Electricity generation is a major source of air pollution in Ontario. In 2007, Caledon had 39 smog days, when it was considered unhealthy to play sports or exercise outdoors. Blessed with high elevation and good winds, Caledon has the opportunity to generate power from community-owned turbines rather than a dirty coal burner.

Clean,sustainable wind energy promotes a healthy environment for our children, provides new sources of revenue for agricultural lands, helps meet the goal of sustainable energy supplying 10% of our power mix by 2010, and provides the community a share ownership opportunity.

Community Wind Farm Benefits

Environmental:

A community wind farm helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, while improving air quality, human health and reduces environmental damage. Further, it helps meet the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases as well as the provincial government’s goal of moving off coal.

Economic:

A wind farm in Caledon can create new skilled jobs and long term local investment. It’s a new income stream for agricultural/rural lands, while also having potential to reduce transmission costs.Lastly, it supports a more reliable power grid, with a new source of input tax base.

Community:

A community wind farm encourages local involvement and pride of ownership. It is an ethical investment opportunity consistent with Caledon’s environmental sensibility.

Concerns About Wind Issues

An introduction to wind issues

For those that are excited about the positive benefits that Wind Energy provides like clean air for all to breathe, the elimination of emissions that contribute to climate change, and long term stable and affordable electricity prices, it is difficult to understand why it is taking so long for Wind Energy projects to be developed. However these are complex projects, and no matter where they are being proposed or developed, people or businesses will be affected and their current surroundings will be changed.

Generally, people don’t like change, even good change. Witness all the people that continue to smoke who know they should not, maintain diets that will lead to obesity and diabetes, don’t exercise, spend beyond their means, and even live in places that will ultimately fall into the sea during a catastrophic event- The list could go on. Generally once people have defined their personal paradigm, a move from it, whether positive or negative, is very difficult. In addition to this, convincing people to change their paradigm takes a great deal of time, compassionate effort and empathy. Combine this with the fact there are many real issues that need to be addressed in the planning stages of Wind energy projects.

Change and valid concerns that need to be addressed make Wind Energy projects difficult to deploy.

We are building sections within this web site that will address specific relevant issues and concerns as resources allow us to do so. However some of the good scientifically validated and professionally produced materials that we discover cover many of the issues within one document. These generic documents are made available for your review in this section.

For more information and the facts about wind issues, please read this PDF.

Further reading:

• The Economics of Wind Energy Development
• Other Wind Development Projects in the News

Shadow Flicker

Shadow Flicker is one of the phenomena that must be taken into consideration when studying the viability of a Wind Energy project. The Wind turbines being considered by Windy Hills (Enercon E82 ) for its current project rotate at a frequency far below that which could cause Health problems. However there is the potential for annoyance and as such we will insure that these annoyances are mitigated should the project proceed.

There is a wealth of information on this topic on the web, however here are some articles that provide additional information and some concrete examples of wind farms developers dealing with the issue and proposing mitigating measures:

• Glen Innes Wind Farm Analysis of Potential Shadow Flicker Impacts (PDF)
• West Wight Project: Shadow Flicker, Aviation and Communication (PDF)
• Wolfe Island Shadow Flicker Report (PDF)
• Wild Horse Shadow Flicker Briefing (PDF)
• Blackstone Edge Shadow Flicker Report (PDF)
• Onshore Wind Planning: Shadow Flicker
• Wind Turbines and Epilepsy
• Lighting Ergonomics - Light Flicker
• Article: “Turbine Shadow Casts Doubt Over Prison Security”

Did you know?

In Denmark, wind power supplies 20% of the national demand, 80% of that being owned by community co-operatives, farmers, villagers, businesses, and homeowners who are securing future energy supply today. Turbine installations are spread around, providing a flexible, reliable delivery system, less susceptible to blackouts.

Beauty or Beast? Some people like the look of wind turbines and others do not.  No matter where a turbine is placed in Caledon, some neighbors will see it. The first turbine in Caledon means change. Once turbines are more commonplace, as they will surely be in future, it will be as normal as seeing a hydro tower, cell phone antenna or water tower. We know that this is all part of living in a society with electricity, communications and water. Caledon citizens do have an opportunity to show leadership.  Our choice: get power from a clean wind turbine next door or a dirty coal burner 50 km away.