Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
One of several signs posted in the project area. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
At the Dec. 11 open house for the Seven Stars Energy Project, proponent Enbridge laid out updates for its planned 200 megawatt wind farm to be located just east of Weyburn. You can read Part 1 about the open house here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here. This is the fifth and final part of this series. The vast majority of discussion points that were brought up during the open house have been included in this series, both the questions and the answers.
Health issues
A woman asked them to address health issues associated with wind turbines.
Chris Ollson, who has a PhD in environmental science from the Royal Military College of Canada, responded. He said, “I’ve been working in the renewable energy sector for about 15 years, and again, do oil and gas and all that sort of fun things. And so over the last 15 years, I’ve been involved both in the research, the primary research, as well as reviewing the literature and reviewing all of the epidemiology studies, all of the Health Canada and the European and the Australian studies that have been conducted around the world.
“There are certainly older projects, primarily the US, some in Canada, where turbines were, quite frankly, sited too close to people’s homes. Okay, so in the past, and especially in the US, you would look at 1000 feet, not 1000 metres, but 1000 feet, well under, like less than a quarter of a mile from people’s homes.
- 0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
- 0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click
- 0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0076 Latus only0076 Latus only
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0011
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
There were sound limits that used to be that you could use 55 decibels, 60 decibel sound limits. You could have shadow flicker of hundreds of hours a year, because you had five turbines, these of those five turbines the west, and you’re getting a lot of these issues.
“So what happened, and certainly some of the early European projects, over the last 20 years, there’s been a lot of research. I mean, I know some people talk to somebody tonight, don’t necessarily believe the Health Canada study, but Health Canada, back in 2012-2014 spent over $2 million of our taxpayer money. It was under a Tory government at the time, right, under Harper government, and Pierre Poilievre was actually one who sponsored that study as the MP. That study basically helped us to inform us as to what proper setback should be, what proper sound limit should be. And then ultimately, in the last 10 years, there’s been over 100 other studies around the world of what constitutes a properly set project for all the issues infrasound, low frequency noise, audible sound, shadow flicker or EMF, the like,” Olson said.
- 0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
- 0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click
- 0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0076 Latus only0076 Latus only
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0011
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
“And what we’ve seen, and what we come to is that the lived experience that we see, what people have and check to tell you more about the sound side on, you know, the sound of it. Saskatchewan doesn’t have a sound limit for wind projects. It’s actually the only province that doesn’t, okay?
“The sound limit that is common across Canada is 40, no more than 40 decibels outside of somebody’s home. If I stop talking for a second, just the hum in the room, the fans going, the furnace, everything else, give or take, we’d be in the sort of 50 decimal range here. So we’re less than half the sound limit of that. The setback distance both RMs have of the 1,500 meters. For those of you that are like me, that like to work in mile sometimes, that’s one mile, give or take. So you’re at least a lot back with people’s homes, at least 1,500 metres.
“That is the greatest setback distance I’ve seen with any project proposed in North America. I’ve worked in over 26 states, every province with wind projects, typically, as these guys were saying before that 750 metre, half mile was a typical setback distance. Now we’re seeing about a kilometre. So when you put all these things together, your RMs actually have the most stringent sound setback standards of any project that I can think of. When I got that first that phone call, I said there’s no way you can build a project at 1.5 kilometers from people’s homes. It’s just, it’s, you’re not going to be able to fit a project in. They have actually made that commitment,” Ollson said.
He continued, “There’s other considerations that are going on. So have there been people that have health complaints that, real or perceive absolutely and again, the last, especially the last 10 years of research, has shown us how to properly site these projects. So that’s where we look at today, the modern projects, the turbines, yes, they’re getting taller, but by these stringent setbacks and all the other requirements that we’re confident that if this project was moved forward in your community, that it will be without health impacts to the local residents.”
In response to a follow-up question, Ollson said, “The vast majority of the studies around the world, have not been actually paid for by the wind industry.”
He cited research done in Australia, Canada and the US.
- 0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
- 0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click
- 0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0076 Latus only0076 Latus only
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0011
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
Relocation and elaboration on setbacks
The redesign of the project, based on feedback, resulted in a layout that is not optimal, Sam Munckhof-Swain, Director, Community Partnerships with Enbridge, said. “But again, based on feedback, we have moved a lot of those tower locations to meet the bylaw and respond to feedback. But, I hope people don’t take away from this conversation that we think that we’ve got it right, and that there is no impact because we’ve moved it. I know that there are people in this room who do still have those towers in close proximity to them, or 1,500 meters, or they’re just more than that, and so, yeah, I just want to acknowledge that, that there is still that impact.”
One man pushed Enbridge to elaborate further on the setbacks. Project manager Keith Taylor explained, “There are four turbines within 1500 meters in the northeast corner of the project. Those do fall within the bylaw, based on Griffin’s bylaw. Just wasn’t getting into because there’s a camera set back from non participating residents, and then a 500 metre minimum setback from participating residents … (inaudible)… This does contemplate that so and because of 1,500 setback, we had challenges, so we did put those within the limit.”
He added, “So the Griffin bylaw does contemplate 500 metres from a participating residence to someone who signed up for the project. Non participating residents is 1500 metres.
He said they are looking to improve their layout, and are approaching people with neighbour agreements to move turbines a little closer. Taylor said, “We’re having conversations with people in the community about that right now, so to reduce those setbacks from property lines, and we’re trying to get sign off from those folks, and if they don’t want it, and we won’t move the turbine.
- 0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
- 0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click
- 0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0076 Latus only0076 Latus only
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0011
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
Federal or provincial dollars?
A man asked about a recent announcement by the federal government of $265 million for “clean energy” projects in Saskatchewan (money that is, in fact, collected from another form of federal carbon tax applied in this province). He wanted to know if there was federal money in this project.
Munckhof-Swain said, “To be clear, the dollars that were announced there, none of that has gone to this project. There may be, we hope there will be, because it makes the economics work, but right now.”
“There are no federal dollars committed to this project or provincial dollars to go towards the capital of this project.”
That appeared to be splitting hairs, as within days of the June announcement Enbridge had bought into the project, the province of Saskatchewan announced $100 million in loan guarantees for Indigenous groups to take part in the ownership stake. Pipeline Online spoke to Premier Scott Moe about this point the day after the open house, and that will be included in the year end interview videos to be published in the coming days.
In that Dec. 12 interview, Moe told Pipeline Online, “It’s about participating in the economy. And when you look across the province, and this is maybe a higher percentage of that, but we look across province, we’re about, 17 per cent Indigenous, self-identified Indigenous people in the province. And when you look at the investments, the investments that are coming into many areas in Saskatchewan only stands to reason that they should have an opportunity to invest in in the capital assets and in the actual business going on like this, this particular project. And we were asked by Enbridge, ‘Is there an opportunity for this to occur?’
“We had come forward with a number of years ago, with the Indigenous Finance Corporation to look at underwriting some of these opportunities, which should be of low, if any, net cost to the government, because they would be loans that are paid back, but providing Indigenous folks, as part of our steps in reconciliation to actually actively participate financially in, you know, in a minority stake in significant projects in the province.
“We have another one, not that has been underwritten by the indigenous Finance Corporation, but has a partnership in an OSB plant in the Prince Albert area as well, that has a number of First Nations communities that are in partnership at the ownership level of that particular plant. This is, I think, a positive for Saskatchewan, a positive for reconciliation and Indigenous communities and Indigenous people. I think it’s also a sign and a function of, you know, us just moving forward in that entire conversation.”
Community divided
There were several references throughout the night to how the community has been divided by the project, something Enbridge representatives acknowledged.
Andria Brady said, “So you talk about the community benefits. You talk about businesses contacting you because they want to get involved. You talk about people contacting you. Has anybody contacted you from businesses who have had people walk into their place of business and threaten them, because the business owner was not in favor and that person thought they had the right to come in and do that? Yeah, I bet you not. Huh? I’m not done. How about the other people who’ve been threatened, who have been threatened, had their employment threatened? About the people who have had their children threatened on the school bus?”
Moderator Tim Robillard responded, “There’s some perception and reality around how Enbridge has been communicating.”
He added, “First, absolutely recognize and acknowledge that the reality right this project has unfortunately put a division in this community?”
He was interrupted by applause.
“And I think, and you may not like the answer, but the way we deal with that is just to continue to have those conversations, improve the project to a point where we can minimize those impacts, right?
“So I’m not going to stand here and say, ‘We’re going to come up with a project that everyone in this community is going to love.’ We acknowledge and recognize that. I empathize with those business owners, with those individuals, with those kids on a school bus. You know that I understand that happens, that is real, and we are deeply saddened by that, that’s unfortunate. Our goal here is to continue those conversations, to make sure that people have the factual information, and we try to improve our project.”
Brady said, “Some of the landowners are doing those things.”
Munckof-Swain responded, “With all due respect. I mean, I can’t comment on exactly every landowner, who’s doing what. What I can just acknowledge, again, is the division that this has created that’s certainly not the intention. Our belief is that this is a good project for the broader community, and our job is to make sure that we work with local residents, local businesses, to get it to get it right.”
(Editor’s note: This story has been updated with several typos corrected. In the final section, the quote “There’s some perception and reality around how Enbridge has been communicating,” had initially been attributed to Mu nckhof-Swain, but it was actually from moderator Tim Robillard. This has been corrected.)
Editor’s note: This concludes the series on the Weyburn wind open house. Expect a column analyzing what took place from editor Brian Zinchuk in the coming days. For comparison, here’s what the Weyburn Review wrote about the event. And here’s Discover Weyburn, Part 1 and Part 2.
- 0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
- 0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click
- 0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0076 Latus only0076 Latus only
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0011
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001