Mission Statement:
The Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County is committed to energy conservation and the development of responsible alternative forms of energy that preserve the unique historical, cultural, agricultural and rural character of the County and the natural beauty of its landscape. The group promotes the awareness of the real impacts of industrial wind energy on Prince Edward County’s environment, economy, and quality of life.
Position Statement: Industrial Wind Turbine Development
The Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County believes that any installation of industrial-scale wind-turbine complexes in Prince Edward County will be detrimental to its unique historical, agricultural, cultural and rural character. There are no locations within the County or in the near shore waters where a wind turbine complex would not severely impact the health, environment, creative and rural economies, and quality of life of its citizens.
APPEC is therefore opposed to the development of industrial wind projects in Prince Edward County.
APPEC believes that responsible and sustainable energy alternatives and conservation measures should be located and showcased within Prince Edward County. These initiatives would meet or exceed provincial policy goals and would improve the environment, economy, health, and quality of life while at the same time preserving the character of the County.
Ian Hanna Legal Case
On October 19, 2009, on behalf of his client Ian Hanna, Eric Gillespie filed an Application to the Ontario Superior Court for Judicial Review of Regulation 359/09 (the “Regulation”) to the Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.19 (the “EPA”) seeking a declaration that sections 35, 53, 54 and 55 of the Regulation are invalid.
These sections pertain specifically to the siting of Industrial Wind Turbines and their accessory apparatus, including transformers.
The basis of the application is that the Ministry of the Environment clearly recognizes the importance of the Precautionary Principle in the ministry’s Statement of Environmental Values (SEV) and therefore, in order to protect human health and the environment, must comply with it when making decisions.
It is further based on the assertion that the Precautionary Principle is a fundamental principle of environmental law recognized by both common law and international law and that the Supreme Court of Canada has held that Legislatures are presumed to respect the values and principles enshrined in international law, both customary and conventional, and that these constitute a part of the legal context in which legislation is enacted and read.
This Application holds that the great scientific uncertainty around the health effects of industrial wind turbines is not taken into account in the application and approval procedures for wind facilities established by the Regulation. Consequently, the Regulation does not comply with the SEV, the common law and international law. It is, therefore, invalid, and should be struck down.
Bringing sanity to Wind Development in Ontario.
Wind Concerns Ontario is a province-wide advocacy organization whose mission is to protect the health, safety and quality of life of the people of Ontario from industrial wind turbines. Wind Concerns Ontario is a coalition of over fifty groups promoting awareness of the true impacts of industrial wind power facilities. APPEC is a founding member and continuing participant of WCO.
County Coalition for Safe Appropriate Green Energy (CCSAGE)
The County Coalition for Safe Appropriate Green Energy (CCSAGE) is a coalition of residents and businesses in Prince Edward County who share concerns about the impact of the Green Energy Act on the health and financial well being of county residents. APPEC is one of the resident organizations that initiated CCSAGE and remains active on its steering committee.
The Society for Wind Vigilance
The Society for Wind Vigilance is an international federation of physicians, engineers and other professionals promoting the development of authoritative wind turbine guidelines to protect the health and safety of communities.
