The mayor of Chatham-Kent is taking the concerns of dirty well water straight to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Mayor Randy Hope sent a letter to Minister Chris Ballard Friday afternoon, urging for the ministry to further investigate the concerns raised by local residents.
An activist group called Water Wells First has been protesting and setting up blockades to construction zones for the North Kent One wind project, claiming that the operation and construction of wind turbines is damaging local water wells.
"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," said Hope in his letter to the minister. "Therefore I am calling on the ministry and yourself to assume a leadership role."
Water Wells First have met with ministry representatives but remain unsatisfied with how the ministry is responding.
BlackburnNews.com reached out to the MOE once blockades were set up this week. Spokesperson Gary Wheeler replied with a statement.
"In response to concerns raised by area residents, the ministry imposed a number of conditions in the Renewable Energy Approval (REA). The company is required to conduct ground borne vibration monitoring during construction and operation of the wind turbines. Additionally the company initiated and undertook a test pile driving vibration monitoring program before construction of wind turbines could proceed," Wheeler stated in an email.
In Hope's letter to the minister, he requests a response.
"This is an extremely urgent matter which demands immediate, decisive action from your ministry and government," said Hope.
