December 23, 2021 - Special Council Meeting via ZOOM

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Approval of Agenda/Conflict of Interest Declaration
  3. Presentation - None
  4. Adoption of Minutes
    1. Special Council Meeting - Thursday, December 2, 2021 (Attachment - 3 pages)
  5. Business Arising from the Minutes  
  6. For Decision
  7. Correspondence and For Information
  8. Financial Requests - none
  9. Agenda Topics for Next Meeting / Notice of Motion by Councillors
  10. Question Period 
  11. In Camera - Personnel Matter.
  12. Adjournment

October 26, 2021 - Committee of the Whole Meeting - 6:30PM

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Approval of Agenda/Conflict of Interest Declaration
  3. Presentation - None
  4. Adoption of Minutes
    1. Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - Tuesday, September 28, 2021 (Attachment - 5 pages)
  5. Business Arising from the Minutes  
    1. SHYFT House - Certificate of Appreciation delivered by Warden 10-22-2021
    2. Letter of support sent to Town of Yarmouth for off-highway vehicle project 10-22-2021
    3. Georges Bank Moratorium Follow up letter - (Attachment - 1 page)
  6. Financial Statements  - September 2021 (Attachment - 16 pages)
  7. For Decision
    1. Article C46 - Accessibility Advisory Committee (Attachment - 4 pages)
    2. Special Constables Designation - Mitch Colburn (Attachment - 1 page)
  8. Correspondence and For Information
    1. Correspondence from Honourable John A. Lohr (Attachment - 1 page)
    2. Joint Council Letter - Mariners Centre - 275 Main Street (Attachment - 2 pages)
    3. Letter from Nova Scotia Public Works regarding Ecole Wedgeport (Attachment - 1 page)
    4. Municipality of Argyle Net-Zero Administration Building Grand Opening (Attachment - 1 page)
  9. Financial Requests - none
  10. Agenda Topics for Next Meeting / Notice of Motion by Councillors
  11. Question Period
  12. In Camera - None.
  13. Adjournment

September 28, 2021 - Committee of the Whole Council Meeting - 6:30 PM

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Approval of Agenda/Conflict of Interest Declaration
  3. Presentation - None
  4. Adoption of Minutes
    1. Regular Council Meeting Minutes - Tuesday, September 14, 2021 - (Attachment - 9 pages)
    2. PAC Minutes - July 15, 2021 (Attachment - 4 pages)
    3. PAC Minutes - September 14, 2021 (Attachment - 5 pages)
  5. Business Arising from the Minutes  
  6. Financial Statements  - August 2021 (Attachments - 3 pages)
  7. For Decision
    1. Article P38 - Allergy Accommodation Policy (Attachment - 4 pages)
    2. 2021 Fall Grants to Organizations Recipients (Attachment - 1 page)
    3. Coastal Protection Act: Proposed Regulations and MODA's response (Attachment - 18 pages) (Attachment - 3 pages)
    4. Selection and approval of quote to relocate MODA generator from 27 Courthouse Road to treatment plant (Attachment - 1 page) (Attachment - 2 pages)
    5. RFD - Amendment of Active Transportation Plan (Attachment - 3 pages)
    6. Argyle Township Court House and Archives Provincial Guidelines (Attachment - 2 pages)
    7. Bilingual Signs Program for Congress 2024
  8. Correspondence and For Information
    1. Western REN Quarterly Reports (Attachment - 5 pages) (Attachment - 6 pages)
    2. Western Counties Regional Library Board - June 17, 2021 Board Minutes (Attachment - 5 pages)
    3. Pop Up Covid 19 Vaccination Clinics in the Municipality of Argyle (Attachment - 1 page)
    4. MODA Building Permit Statistics (Attachment - 1 page)
  9. Financial Requests - none
  10. Agenda Topics for Next Meeting / Notice of Motion by Councillors
  11. Question Period
  12. In Camera - Negotiation
  13. Adjournment

Wedgeport Windfarm Development Agreement

Have any questions or concerns about the Wedgeport Windfarm Development Agreement?

Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What is this development agreement?

The Development Agreement is a legal document between parties that outline the conditions upon which Council shall approve a development. The development agreement shall seek to address the issues that the community members have raised around the proposed wind turbine project.

These issues include:

  • Shadow Flicker – best described as the potential shadow that a turbine blade may create if it turns against direct sunlight. This has caused nuisances to residents in past wind farms.
  • Noise – Noise can be created through the blade rotation and also grinding coming from the ‘engine’. Both the development agreement and the environmental assessment states that Elemental Energy must keep the noise to a level of 40 decibels. Distance from a non-seasonal home must be at least 1000 meters.
  • Property values – residents expressed concerns that property values would drop as a consequence of wind turbine erection.
  • Not just Wedgeport Wind – residents expressed concerns that the farm impacts three communities directly, not simply one. Comeau’s Hill and Little River shall be mentioned in this development.
  • Community benefits – Elemental Energy shall outline how the communities will benefit from this development, including donations to major non-profit organizations that seek to improve the communities. Equality of treatment of communities was mentioned as very important.

Elemental Energy has partnered with a local First Nation organization as part of their provincial application and received approval to enter a Power Purchase Agreement with NS Power in August 2022. 

For more information on this windfarm, visit Elemental Energy's project website at www.wedgeportwind.ca

 

What about the environmental impact?

The Province approved an environmental assessment of the development in May 2023. This type of assessment measures issues such as wildlife protection and management, noise restrictions, shadow flicker, turbine deconstruction and site reclamation at the end of the project, etc.

The link to the decision may be found here https://novascotia.ca/nse/ea/wedgeport-wind-farm-project/

 

Relevant Documents:

  • Visual Quality Report - Download
  • Project Layout and Assessment Area - Download
  • WSP Development Agreement Presentation (December 7, 2023) - Download

Timeline of Events

  • December 7, 2023 - 6:30PM - Public Participation Meeting
  • December 12, 2023 - 4:30PM -  Planning Advisory Committee
  • December 14, 2023 - 6:30 PM - Regular Council Meeting (First Reading of Development Agreement)
  • January 9, 2024 - 6:00 PM - Information Session (Wedgeport Fire Hall)
  • January 18, 2024 - 6:30 PM - Public Hearing (5 J.E. Hatfield Court, Tusket)
  • January 25, 2024 - 6:30 PM - Executive Council Meeting (Second Reading of Development Agreement)