Sir: When I moved to Chatham on June 3, 2009, I was really impressed by the number of wind turbines we have in these gusty plains of southwestern Ontario. This, I thought, makes sense. After the mess left following the closure of Ontario Hydro in 1999, I really believed the provincial Liberals were revolutionizing the production of electricity.
Since then I have heard all the bad stories about the wind turbines, of which I had once been so proud. If they really are wrecking peoples’ water wells, something has to be done.
Also, I understand the government is paying wind farm operators to generate electricity. Naively, I had always figured the wind was free, a gift from God, and I didn’t realize we were paying for wind, much of which isn’t needed.
I understand if they do have too much electricity from the wind turbine, they cut back on the cheaper sources of power, such as the Beck hydro plants at Niagara.
I also suspect that sometimes the wind turbines could interfere with birds’ offshore migratory corridors.
I felt that while wind power is an important natural resource to be encouraged, it is also vitally important to maintain biodiversity and protect wildlife and intact ecosystems.
Stephen J. Beecroft
Chatham
