Rural wind power neighbours vindicated in concerns about lost property value, noise

TORONTO, April 23, 2013 /CNW/ - Wind Concerns Ontario, a coalition of individuals and community groups concerned about the negative impacts of large-scale wind power developments, has reacted positively to a decision yesterday by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The decision states that while the plaintiffs could not sue for lost property value before the wind project was approved by the government, they can take action later.

"The judge accepts unreservedly that property value is lost for neighbours of these power projects based on the evidence," says Jane Wilson, president. "He also accepted that the possibility of adverse health effects from the environmental noise. This is vindication for Ontario's rural and small urban residents, and for municipal councils who try to protect their citizens by declaring they are not 'willing hosts' to wind power generation projects."

The decision noted evidence of property value losses in the range of 22 to 50 percent. "The effect on Ontario's economy of property values losses on that scale would be significant and impact municipal tax revenues," said Wilson. "The government subsidy for large-scale wind power must halt."

SOURCE: Wind Concerns Ontario

Jane Wilson 613-489-3591/613-725-7120