Winegrowers Association requests suspension of wind development in PEC

The Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association (PECWA), has called on the Ontario government to suspend wind energy development in Prince Edward County until conditions set out recently by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture are met.

PECWA, representing more than 30 local wineries and grapegrowers, states that it shares the OFA’s escalating concerns about industrial wind energy development.  It specifically names Gilead Power’s Ostrander Point and WPD Canada’s White Pines wind projects as posing “a threat to the rural renaissance occurring in the County”.

PECWA joins the OFA in requesting the Ontario government to “suspend further development until farm families and rural residents are assured that their interests are adequately protected”.

PECWA members both own businesses and live in the County, so they have a major stake in its continued economic success.  CCSAGE applauds PECWA for stepping forward and taking a stand on the #1 issue facing Prince Edward County.

For more information, see PECWA media release March 23, 2012.

A second open letter to the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario

[Letter written by County resident Gary Mooney]

From our municipality’s Official Plan: “In the future, Prince Edward County will be a tranquil and beautiful place to live and visit. It will be unique from most parts of the Province because of its combination of natural beauty, heritage and rural charm. These special attractions will have been properly preserved and enhanced over the years by the people of Prince Edward County.”

Premier McGuinty, you’re threatening our economic future.