Print

E-mail

Text

Re: 'Huge crowds pack Guildwood meeting,' News, Nov. 26

I did think it was interesting to hear assurances that our local birds and fish would be safe from the giant windmills, but not one person mentioned anything about people and our boating community - despite the fact that in two of the slides presented, there were little boats included as a means of showing scale.

Toronto has a very active boating community. On any given summer day, you'll see at least a few dozen boats out on the water south of the city's east end. Fishing boats, day sailors and people taking vacations along the coast; our boaters come from all walks of life.

My question is, what happens when you plunk 60 wind turbines in the middle of them? I've been out on the lake when fog has suddenly rolled in so thick you can barely see the bow from the cockpit. I recall one particularly nasty day when a boat came past the Ashbridge's Bay headland, a person on the bow yelling through the fog, (and, honestly, they weren't kidding) 'Hello! Hello!...Can you tell us where Toronto is?'

Lights or beacons on the windmills in such conditions will only be seen when it is already too late.

It is true that the time has come for us to make responsible changes in energy generation and I agree that wind farms are a viable option. But putting one where it's just a matter of time before someone crashes into a windmill and drowns sounds very irresponsible, if not downright stupid.

Sean Matthews