A land-use bylaw amendment concerning the location of large-scale wind turbine generators has been approved in the Municipality of Argyle.
Under the change, large-scale wind turbines will have to be built at least one kilometre from the nearest house. The municipality approved the amendment Tuesday evening.
The previous separation requirement was based on a formula involving the length of turbine blades.
The issue of wind farms has been a controversial one in the Municipality of Argyle. A major wind-energy project had been proposed for the Comeau’s Hill area, a project that generated much public opposition, many people citing health and environmental concerns, among others, about the project.
In the end, that project fell through after it was not among those approved by the province.
As for the new setback requirement in the Municipality of Argyle, while it’s more stringent than the previous one, those who came forward earlier this year to express concern about the Comeau’s Hill project felt a 1,000-metre separation wasn’t enough, given what they said were the potential harmful effects of big wind-energy projects.
