Local clean water activists have secured a hearing with the Ministry of Energy, as they fight against the permit for a north Chatham-Kent wind project.
Water Wells First will take part in a preliminary hearing with the Environmental Review Tribunal on August 23. They originally appealed the North Kent 1 proposal in July, after seeing limited contingency measures in the event wind turbines disturb or disrupt area well water.
The group claims the disturbance is already happening with existing turbines, with spokesperson Kevin Jakubec saying sediment has been found in multiple wells near Dover.
"It's really emotional when you see their loss of quality of water," says Jakubec. "No ability to wash, bathe, and they can't shower."
Documents on the project show, if construction or vibrations end up depositing more sediment into Dover drinking water, North Kent 1 officials would supply residents with bottled water. Water Wells First hopes the hearing will spark changes to the project's permit, establishing more mitigations and putting in measures to limit vibrations from the turbines.
"There's a lot of preparation, going through the scientific literature, pulling together an expert witness team. All that work is being done," adds Jakubec.
After the preliminary hearing, a final hearing will go September 21.
The August 23 proceedings start at 10am at the John D. Bradley Centre.
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