November 13th, 2009
Construction of the Wind Anemometer
I confirmed with Toronto Hydro Renewable Energy Resources the object currently in Lake Ontario is the barge being used to work on the construction of the wind anemometer.
This barge in the water has a crane on a flat bed which is not the anemometer. The complete installation will be done by the end of November according to Toronto Hydro
What the picture shows is the working barge that is in the lake to drill anchors into the bedrock, as required by the Ministry.
The legs raised out of the barge are called "spuds" that are lowered to the bedrock to lift the barge up out of the water to eliminate wave interference and stabilize drilling.
Once those anchors are in place then the platform will be brought out and attached to the anchors to ensure it is stable. After that, the anemometer will be secured to the platform.
Unfortunately the Province did approve the testing process which will be done via an anemometer for a two year duration.
I will be doing everything I can as your City of Toronto Councillor to ensure we receive regular updates on the data being collected by Toronto Hydro.
This project is a huge waste of the hard earned money we provide to Toronto Hydro through our tax dollars!
Thank you for all your e-mails. Please continue to contact me with your questions and comments.
October 23, 2009
Wind Testing to Go Ahead Despite Opposition from Councillor Paul Ainslie & Community Members
Scarborough East - Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 43 Scarborough East) today received word that Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. has received the final approval they required from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to build a wind research platform (anemometer) in Lake Ontario, approximately 1.2 km offshore (Toronto Hydro Release)... click here for details also available in PDF
On January 20, Toronto Hydro held another Community meeting at my personal urging. Once again, I was not happy with the "controlling" attitude Toronto Hydro took towards our residents. I had extended an invitation to Mayor David Miller,
and other government officials to attend the meeting including The Hon. George Smitherman, The Hon. Donna Cansfield, and the Hon. John Gerretsen, all of who declined to attend. I fully understand there are residents, for, against, and those who simply would like to better understand what this project could mean to our community. I will continue to keep firm with my decision to not support the location choice of Toronto Hydro due to a lack of economic case, and also the issue of esthetics. I am continuing to converse with Toronto Hydro and the Province to ensure that yourvoices are heard and to persuade them to look at different locations and methods to produce clean energy as they are aware that I am not supportive of this proposal.
I encourage you to continue to contact Toronto Hydro, the Province as well as Mayor Miller and the Board
members of Toronto Hydro:
A group of Guildwood residents have organized to raise
concerns about the use of the Scarborough Bluffs as a
site for industrial wind power development. Their
Councillor Ainslie's Letter to "Save The Toronto Bluffs"
Councillor Ainslie's Letter to Hon. John Gerretsen
Councillor Ainslie's Letter to Hon. George Smitherman
Councillor Ainslie's Letter to Hon. Donna H. Cansfield
Community Meeting Announcement
Councillor Ainslie's December 2008 letter to Guildwood Residents
Councillor Ainslie's letter to David O’Brien
Councillor Ainslie's November 2008 letter to Guildwood Residents
Councillor Ainslie's October 2008 letter to Guildwood Residents
Councillor Ainslie's Wind Testing Motion to Council
Councillor Ainslie's August 2008 letter to Guildwood Residents
Councillor Ainslie's Letter to the Editor Toronto Star
Councillor Ainslie's Letter to Toronto Hydro
