Residents launch letter-sending campaign against wind turbines

NEEPAWA — A group of area residents has sent thousands of letters to offices in Manitoba objecting to a wind turbine project that was proposed near Polonia this spring.

A total of 20,498 letters had been sent to local and provincial government offices as of last week, RM of Rosedale resident Trevor Bennett told the Sun. The letters follow after Bennett and a group of locals organized a letter-signing event in Neepawa in June.

“I never thought I’d be in this position,” Bennett, an agriculture equipment salesman, said. “I would much rather have someone else do it than me.”

Bennett and roughly a dozen other local citizens have banded together to lead opposition against the wind turbine proposal that seeks to install between 28 to 36 turbines in his community. The group is using personal printers, as well as donations and spare time in efforts to protest the windmill project — Bennett drove to Winnipeg to deliver six boxes of physical letters in June.

“We had so many letters that it would have cost us an arm and a leg to mail it. So we drove to Winnipeg to drop them off,” he said.

Bennett has also produced signs that are being placed in the rural community.

Bennett said he got personally involved because he purchased land in the RM of Rosedale countryside to retire, and three months later learned that agreements had been taking place in the meantime with other landowners to potentially install turbines on their land. Bennett said he learned after settling in that his neighbour signed on to potentially host a turbine.

“I would have never moved there, to be honest, if I ever knew that was an option. Because I didn’t move to the country to listen to ‘wowowow’ all the time,” Bennett said. “I moved there to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the country.

The wind turbine proposal was announced in April of this year. It is a partnership between the Manitoba Métis Federation and Renewable Energy Systems, and one of several projects competing for the chance to supply Manitoba Hydro with 200 megawatts of Indigenous majority-owned wind energy.

The Sun’s request for comment about the letter campaign was not returned by Renewable Energy Systems and the Manitoba Métis Federation by press time last week.

The letter signing event hosted about 100 people, and in total between 300 to 400 have signed a number of letters raising different concerns about the Polonia proposal, Bennett said. About 1,279 letters were sent as a result to the local RM of Rosedale, and when all recipients and all letters are summed up, the group has sent more than 20,000 letters around the province.

The campaign is meant to show that turbine project would be be scrutinized if it is chosen for the area, Bennett said.

“Our goal is to be in front, and to be an extra hoop to jump through. If we send lots of letters, and they have to do a lot of work, and it’s a pain in their butt, then guess what, (it might change their mind).”

Manitoba Hydro will be choosing among several proposed wind turbine projects, including turbines proposed in the Carroll area south of Brandon, as well near Swan Lake First Nation. The utility is expected to choose the winning proposal next year.

The area proposed for turbines near Polonia encompasses land in the RM of Rosedale and the RM of Minto-Odanah. Rosedale Reeve Karl Snezyk was unable to comment when reached by the Sun, and Minto-Odanah Reeve Doug Dowsett declared a conflict of interest and declined to comment.

Rosedale Coun. Jeff Henderson said he sees the project as a local example of a tension in Canada — where the country wants to grow its economy, but has no “easy answers” for economic development.

“It’s tough, like there’s enough vested interest now that you’re going to have hard discussions about every single project going forward,” he said. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t have the hard discussion, but every single one of these projects now is going to be like this. There’s going to be strong opinions on both sides.”

Henderson noted that in the case of Rosedale, concerns raised by locals could lead the project to change. The business case for the windmills could be affected by the letter campaign and associated activism.

“There might be conditions put in place by the province of Manitoba for this particular project, based on what local residents have told us,” he said. “If this project gets picked, and if it proceeds to the next step of trying to get a provincial license, that provincial license has to put in some conditions that protect and safeguard locals … and if they can get the license, there’s also a real chance that the conditions of provincial licensing make it so that it’s not cost effective.”

In Henderson’s opinion, Canada cannot grow its economy without building, and that the province needs energy production somewhere. He did not say whether he supported the letter campaign against local turbines, but said he supports citizen engagement.

“I’m a huge fan, personally, of engaged citizenry. I believe everybody should get involved early in every decision — big decision or small decision — I think people need to get involved in politics,” he said.

The Manitoba government is paying attention as the wind turbines proposals go forward, according to a provincial spokesperson.

“We understand some Manitobans have concerns about proposed wind developments and we are listening to those perspectives to ensure communities have a meaningful voice in the process,” press secretary Keigan Buckley wrote in an email. “Studies have shown that the impact on the communities near wind farms are marginal and do not have significant adverse effects on the environment.”

The provincial government believes wind turbines are part of Manitoba’s future, Buckley said.

“Our government believes that the future of clean energy in Manitoba includes wind power, and we are proud to be supporting Indigenous-led wind energy projects that create jobs, generate revenue, and help build a stronger, more sustainable economy.”

Going forward, Bennett said the group will continue to send letters as additional residents become involved. The group is also using social media to drum up support and organize advocacy in the future.

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com