The severe weather on December 1 that created the ice and high winds that knocked out power lines in our area also put the “wind plant” of Melancthon out of action for more than a week.

The turbines could not operate until the temperatures improved and the ice melted away. From Sunday (Dec. 3) afternoon, when the power lines in the area were

repaired, to the following Sunday (Dec. 10) afternoon, the turbines sat motionless.

The company’s president describes the weather event as “highly unusual”. Maybe the combination of ice and high winds was a bit unusual, but the freezing rain alone, which is what really stopped the turbines, is not unusual for this area.

Residents know that freezing rain in the fall, winter or spring occurs fairly often.

What we have learned here is that the “wind plant” that is supposed to “generate enough green power to supply more than 20,000 households each year” must stop when there is freezing rain, and wait until a thaw before it can be started up again.

The point to be made is that the provincial government, by encouraging wind projects, is putting our future electricity supply security at risk, while we, through our electricity bills and our taxes pay more.

One can hope that more and more people will begin to see the weakness of energy policy that may require the consumer to do without whenever there is a ice storm, and just maybe we can reverse our course on this illogical path we are headed.

I sure am glad that I was not one of those 20,000 homes that get their electricity from the turbines.

Dennis Sanford

Melancthon