The MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry will be holding a public consultation on a draft bylaw introduced in March that would revise the regulatory framework governing wind energy development within its territory.
The consultation was originally scheduled to take place in Saint-Etienne-de-Beauharnois, but high levels of public interest have required a change of location, and the meeting will now take place at the Hotel MOCO in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield on April 29 at 7 p.m.
“In accordance with government guidelines on land use planning, the MRC has updated its regulations. This meeting is an essential step to hear feedback and address the community’s questions,” said the MRC prefect, Miguel Lemieux, who is also the mayor of Valleyfield.
The information session will include a joint presentation by the MRC and a representative from Hydro-Québec. It will cover the development of wind energy in Quebec, as well as the provincial obligations behind the regulatory changes, the main changes to the MRC’s bylaw governing wind energy development, and the timeline for the next steps in the process to adopt the regulation.
This will be followed by a question-and-answer period. Residents will be invited to comment on the changes being proposed to the regulatory framework, which establishes compatible areas for the implantation of commercial wind turbines as well as a minimum distance of 700 metres from residences and other sensitive land use features. Other minimum distances have been established for certain types of infrastructure and roadways, while some locations are completely exempt, such as ecologically sensitive areas and woodlands.
Along with the proposed new bylaw, the MRC has published a map that identifies locations that may be compatible for erecting a 200-metre commercial wind turbine, which includes areas in all seven municipalities.
The MRC has imposed a moratorium on wind energy projects to prohibit the issuing of permits that authorize the installation or construction of wind turbines, or any land use for wind energy production, until the process to adopt the new bylaw has been completed.
Residents may also submit their written questions in advance by email to info@mrcbhs.ca or in person at the MRC offices in Beauharnois. Registration for the consultation is required, and residents can confirm their attendance online at www.bit.ly/consultationMRC or by calling 450-225-0870.
The meeting will also be streamed simultaneously online on the MRC’s YouTube page, and a recording will be made available following the event.