Plans for major Canadian wind farm advance

WINDSOR, Ontario, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The town council of a farming community in southwestern Ontario has advanced plans for construction of what would be Canada's largest wind farm.

At a three-hour public town meeting in Comber Monday, councilors voted 6-4 in favor of allowing Brookfield Renewable Power to erect 148 of the 350-foot high wind turbine towers, the Windsor Star reported Tuesday.

The meeting showed some farmers who originally endorsed the plan had second thoughts, fearing increased taxes would more than wipe out revenue from the turbine leases, the report said.

There were also farmers concerned with just the opposite.

"Why is it that you have to ruin the entire landscape of the county?" farmer Robert King said. "Our property values will go down."

The wind turbines are expected to be visible for six miles or more in the flat, treeless county.

The vote means Brookfield can pursue a contract with the Ontario Power Authority to start building the $600-million wind farm next year, the Star said.