Letter: Mayor Hope writes Minister of Environment

Dear Minister:

I am seeking your immediate intervention on the issue of well water quality as it regards to the North Kent One wind project being developed by Pattern Energy and Samsung in our community.

Since pile-driving for the turbines began earlier this month, a number of residents have come forward with complaints of turbidity, discolouration and sediment from wells on their property which had previously been base-tested and found to be within acceptable limits.

Conflicting information in tests completed by the firm hired by the developer, those of residents and those the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change have created fear and concern among residents who use the wells as their primary source for drinking water.

That concern has grown due to lack of public statements and investigation by MOECC officials.

Access to wind farm sites have been blocked by local farmers and residents worried about the health of their families due to possible water contamination.

Under the Green Energy Act passed by your government, Chatham-Kent does not have the legal authority to intervene in the construction or operation of wind farms or the jurisdiction to determine environmental effects which may occur during their construction or operation.

Therefore I am calling on the ministry and yourself to assume a leadership role.

The ministry cannot remain silent on this very important issue.

It must fulfill its mandate and responsibility to the residents of our community and provide open, transparent information to our municipal council and the general public as to real or potential risks to the aquifer, residents’ health and remedial action needed to ensure water quality.

This is an extremely urgent matter which demands immediate, decisive action from your ministry and government.

I await your prompt response.

Randy Hope
Mayor, Chatham-Kent