Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

Those protesting solar projects in Clearview Township took an opportunity to voice their concerns to council members Sept. 28 during a regularly scheduled public participation session.

Several residents spoke in opposition to a proposal by BluEarth Renewables to install solar panels at the Edenvale Aerodrome property, owned by Milan Kroupa, and an adjacent parcel that would generate up to 29 megawatts of electricity.

Council is also facing a protest of sorts from within.

Councillor Kevin Elwood is critical of the way the proposal was handled by Clearview Township staff and council but he failed in his attempt to rescind a bylaw relating to the project Monday.

Elwood tried to bring the issue back to the council table but there weren’t enough votes to pass a motion to reconsider the issue. Only Thom Paterson voted with Elwood to re-open a debate about the Edenvale solar project and a community partnership deal, passed in August.

Clearview Township is not the approval authority for large-scale renewable energy projects. That responsibility lies with the province. The Edenvale project was submitted to the provincial government’s Independent Electricity System Operator under the large renewable procurement request for proposals.

Two solar companies asked Clearview council for support in order to strengthen their applications. Although council did not offer support for a solar farm proposed in New Lowell because the application was rushed and there was opposition from the public, they did vote in support of the Edenvale project. Council also signed an agreement that would see the township get $1,500 per megawatt if and when it is operational.

At Monday’s meeting, Elwood spoke to the highlights of a 300-page report he prepared, supported by a legal opinion.

Elwood argues that the site is not appropriate for solar because the subject property is made up of prime agricultural land, although zoned rural in the township’s Official Plan, and part of it is wetland and woodland. 

He said the township did not properly consult with the public.

Elwood also has concerns about the monetary benefit to the township and says the bylaw was passed in violation of the Municipal Act because it does not include all of the legal addresses and the agreement was not signed by all members of council.

“The agreement was not everything we could have achieved,” he said, adding that other communities have received more from the same company and the township’s own planner recommended $2,000 per megawatt.

“Why did we not negotiate a better deal for residents of Clearview?,” asked Elwood.

Deputy Mayor Barry Burton said council had met with the township’s lawyers at an in-camera meeting that afternoon which he felt cleared up a lot of the issues.

“It’s rural land, not agricultural,” said Burton. “I think this agreement was done in good faith.”

The IESO contracts will be awarded in December.

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