Wolfe Island project can serve as a warning

Three weeks ago I wrote a letter to the editor of a Kingston, Ontario, newspaper concerning the 86 new wind turbines on Wolfe Island. In it I noted:

"One of the most beautiful areas in the North American continent has recently become the target for wind turbine projects put up by giant international corporations who, if they have their way, plan to fill the entire Great Lakes Basin with these industrial parks."

The letter goes on to say:

"Residents of some municipalities in Ontario no longer have a say in what happens to their communities. A handful of landowners are able to dictate not only what the people in their own community but the thousands of people in a 20 to 25 mile radius must live with. ...

"The Wolfe Island Wind turbine project should serve as a warning to all the rural communities around the Great Lakes. These communities should take careful note of what has happened on Wolfe Island so that they can prevent the same thing from happening to them."

The letter must have struck a chord with some of our neighbors to the south because I have been asked by several lifelong residents of the Cape Vincent area to send a copy to the Watertown Daily Times. One of these people told me:

"You have to understand that when the wind company came to Cape Vincent and secretly signed leases with the land owners they effectively took control of the land, the politics and the Cape Vincent government. Now our municipal leaders are scared to death that if they stop the windmills from coming to the Cape they will be sued by massive corporations.

"The ability of the wind developers to hold that gun to the head of the town and threaten to bankrupt it in lawsuits means they control our government by holding it hostage."

This person could have been talking about Wolfe Island. The only difference is the timing. The Wolfe Island landowners had already signed these highly confidential "Option to Lease" contracts with the wind corporation a year before the wind corporations started scouting out Cape Vincent.

In a way, this was good luck for the Cape. Now they can see that what has happened on Wolfe Island is quickly heading their way, and they have about a year to put the brakes on.

Bruce Horne

Wolfe Island, Ontario