Nova Scotia businessman John Risley, seen in a still from a video streamed on YouTube, talks to residents of Newfoundland’s Port au Port peninsula about a proposed wind farm in the region on Wednesday. (Aidan Young/YouTube)
Residents of Newfoundland’s Port au Port peninsula say they were blindsided by the announcement of a proposed hydrogen wind farm in the region, saying they fear dozens of turbines will encroach on their land and harm their way of life.
At a meeting in Cape St. George on Wednesday, businessman John Risley faced a room full of visibly disappointed residents, some of whom said they were surprised to learn about it from media reports or neighbors.
“This is disrespectful. Very disrespectful … There are some very angry people in our communities,” one woman can be heard telling Risley during a meeting that was streamed on YouTube.
“You’ll have a lot of convincing to do.”
Risley, a Nova Scotia businessman who previously ran Clearwater Seafoods, is chairman and CEO of CFFI Ventures and part of the group behind World Energy GH2. The company plans to build 164 wind turbines on the peninsula and use the energy produced there to produce green hydrogen and ammonia at a plant in Stephenville.
WATCH | Watch a stream of John Risley’s July 6 meeting with Port au Port residents:
Risley said multi-municipality meetings began six weeks ago and told the meeting he understood those meetings did not represent the entire population. He added that subsequent meetings were also held in nearby Lourdes and Stephenville.
Others raised concerns about the location, noise and height of the turbines, wondering if they would have any impact on the area’s landscapes and views – or if they could be placed on people’s properties.
In response, Risley said the turbines could not be closer than a kilometer from any building and expected the turbines to be between 90 and 120 feet tall, or between 27 and 45 meters.
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador does not appear to have any rules governing the minimum distance between wind turbines and private residences.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has refused to explain what – if any – rules exist for the turbines, despite repeated requests from the CBC and Radio-Canada. Spokeswoman Debbie Marnell said in an email that Environment Minister Bernard Davis “will be kept informed of the province’s requirements and policies regarding wind energy projects.”
Newfoundland and Labrador in April lifted a moratorium on private onshore wind generation. The moratorium had been in place for 15 years.
German market now confirmed: Risley
Asked where the hydrogen produced in Newfoundland might end up, Risley said the group already has a confirmed market in Germany.
Risley said the German government has created a Crown corporation to buy green hydrogen, which will then decide where to introduce it into the German economy.
A company plans to install 164 wind turbines on the Port au Port peninsula, on Newfoundland’s west coast. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)
“The purpose of them doing this is to make our marketing job easier because we don’t have to run around and talk to all these potential customers and convince them that they have to pay a green premium,” he said.
Construction of the turbines and hydrogen plant in Stephenville is expected to take three years, with Raisley hoping it could begin around the summer of 2023. The project must first undergo a long-term environmental study, looking at how birds and wildlife will be affected. the plants, along with a study of the conditions around the site where the turbines will be located.
Meanwhile, residents who live in local service areas said they were not consulted in the same way they were with councils.
The proposed Port au Port Peninsula wind farm project. Each red dot represents a wind turbine. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
Risley also said he is willing to work with local service districts to ensure all concerns are shared.
During the meeting, Risley even offered to take some people to similar wind farms in places like Ontario so they could share their experiences with residents.
“We will not start construction for a year. There is plenty of time for these conversations,” he said.
“And if I have to come back here three or four times or more, then I’m more than happy to do it.”
Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Add Comment