The province's Green Energy Act has changed the responsiblities of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority.
Water and Planning Supervisor Geoff Cade says the five tests the Authority looks at are flooding, erosion, dynamic beaches, pollution, and the conservation of land. Cade adds the Green Energy Act removed the conservation of land provision, leaving the Authority to monitor the other four elements.
Cade adds they work closely with wind energy companies in their watershed, and if they have any issues under their four test areas they invite the wind energy companies to revise their plans to conform to the Authority's policies.
So far, the ABCA has never had to reject a permit application.
Cade adds when turbines were first proposed for the area different groups or individuals did ask them to review some of the projects for things like their impact on migrating birds but the Green Energy Act removed their authority to do that.
