If enacted, new setback rules concerning wind turbines could dramatically alter more than three-quarters of Ontario's wind projects.

By Crystal Luxmore

Under the proposed regulations, turbines must be set back 550 meters (about 1,800 feet) from the nearest residence. Noise levels would also need to fall to 40 decibels at receptors such as dwellings or businesses. Setback distances would rise with the number of turbines or the sound power -- so, for instance, eight turbines with a sound power level of 105 decibels would need to meet a setback of 1,000 meters. Additionally, any turbines registering more than 107 decibels would require a noise study.

The new regulations also propose a safety setback, equivalent to the distance-of-tower plus blade-length measurement, away from roadways, property lines, railways and other rights of way. ...

The combination of the 550-meter minimum setback and the safety setback would stop most of the proposed new wind farms currently in the development pipeline from ever seeing the light of day, says Sean Whittaker, vice president of policy for the Canadian Wind Energy Association. "Together, these two requirements would eliminate many of the turbines in the planning process in Ontario," he says, adding that three-quarters of the projects would be rendered "non-viable" or would need to be complete[ly] redesigned.

As an example, Whittaker evokes AIM Power Generation's 99 MW Erie Shores project, which was installed three years ago near Port Burwell, Ontario. ... "That project has 66 turbines," Whittaker says. "But under the proposed setbacks, only seven turbines would be considered compliant." ...

The setback proposals are part of the Ontario government's promise under its Green Energy and Green Economy Act, proposed in May, to streamline approval processes. The proposals are also a response to health concerns often expressed by citizens living or working close to wind farms.