Jeff Yurek  (Photo submitted by Jeff Yurek)Jeff Yurek (Photo submitted by Jeff Yurek)
London

Dutton/Dunwich Wind Turbine Project Among Provincial Energy Cuts

One of many projects that are being abandoned by the provincial government is a wind farm west of London.

Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek announced Friday night that the Dutton/Dunwich Wind Turbine Project will be cancelled. The project is being ceased along with hundreds of others after the Tory government announced the cancellation of 758 renewable energy contacts throughout the province.

"The majority of the community and municipality have been against this project from day one," said Yurek in a news release. "We made a promise we would cancel these unnecessary energy projects and we have kept that promise as part of our plan to cut hydro rates by 12% for families, farmers and small businesses.”

A group of local anti-wind turbine advocates, the Dutton-Dunwich Opponents of Wind Turbines Inc., most recently brought their complaints about the wind farm to Queens Park in the form of a petition back in April.  The group has repeatedly called for an end to “transitional” noise requirements for new wind power projects.

The Ontario government has not provided a full list of which projects will be cut and how the province expects to save a total of $790-million for ratepayers.

However, Premier Doug Ford's move to rip up over 700 green energy contracts has also provoked the ire of the energy sector, as well as the official opposition.

“It’s Kathleen Wynne’s gas plants scandal all over again,” said NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns.  "Mr. Ford’s war on science and the environment... is going to mean lost jobs, billions of dollars wasted, and tangible environmental damage.”

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