Municipality of Kincardine

Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change

December 6, 2017
 AGENDA

Renewable Energy and Wind Turbine Facility Approvals

Ministry Compliance Approach

Proactive and Reactive Compliance Activities

Qualitative and Quantitative Noise Assessment

Enbridge and Armow Wind Facilities

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 What Requires a Renewable Energy
Approval
In general, all large wind, solar and bio-energy Wind Projects
projects require a REA including:
Wind >50kW (small wind 3kw-50kW have
streamlined requirements)
Ground mounted solar >500kW (Solar projects
between 10kW 500kW can go through EASR)
Solar Projects
Bio-energy facilities (anaerobic digestion or thermal
treatment facilities using biomass, biogas or
biofuel)
REA does not apply to: Waterpower projects;
Rooftop solar; Bio-energy projects on farms that opt Bioenergy Projects
to follow the Nutrient Management Act process
instead, and very small projects (e.g. wind <3kW,
solar <10kW)

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 Wind Facility Approvals

ECA* REA
Pre-September 2009 Post-September 2009

Proponent had to first O. Reg. 359/09

complete Environmental established for renewable
Assessment as per energy projects, including
O. Reg. 116/01. minimum setbacks,
Facilities may have acoustic assessment
required separate reports, etc.
approvals for Streamlines approvals
construction, operation, processes into single
Permits to Take Water approval document.
and industrial sewage.

*Includes CofAs as well.

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 Key Information Found in a
Wind Facility Approval (REA)
Expiry of Approval
Noise performance limits
Acoustic Audit Immission/
Emission (I/E Audit)
Stormwater management
Water taking activities
Groundwater monitoring
Pre/post-construction monitoring
Birds and bats study results
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Consultation
Municipal/First Nation
Cultural Heritage/
Archaeological resources
Aeronautical systems
Operation and maintenance
Notification of complaints
Change of ownership
 Ministry Compliance Approach

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 Compliance Approach

For issues of non-compliance staff are encouraged to use both

voluntary and mandatory abatement tools:

Voluntary Abatement Tools Proponent takes actions to

address issues identified; and,

Mandatory Abatement Tools Ministry issuance of an

instrument (i.e. ticket, order, referral) to address the incident or
violation.

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 Proactive Compliance Initiatives
Pre-Construction
Inspection
Conducted after REA issued, but
prior to construction;
Establish rapport with wind facility
owner/operator; and
Ensure the company understands
their REA conditions and
requirements
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Post-Construction
Inspection
(Completed by SCB prior to April 1, 2017)
Conducted within a year of
operation;
Ensure wind turbines are
constructed in the approved
locations;
Ensure all non-participating
receptors have been identified; and
Ensure that the various conditions
of the approval and legislation are
being met.
 Complaints

Noise
85% of complaints
Shadow Health Safety
Related to loss of
enjoyment and health
Flicker Lights
Various symptoms
including
effects Temporary condition
Usually broadband Fatigue Transport Canada
Shadows flick on and Loss of
Tonal noise requirement
off as blades rotate concentration
Infrasound Not required for every
Construction Head-ache turbine
Ear-ache

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 Reactive Compliance Activities

A qualitative assessment should be the first step in evaluating

complaints. This involves talking to the complainant and making
field observations.

May be conducted concurrently with a post-construction

inspection and/or ministry noise monitoring.

May not be required to be repeated for subsequent complaints

from the same receptor unless the situation changes, such as
the installation of additional turbines.

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 Quantitative Noise Assessment
Two types of noise monitoring can be conducted at a sensitive
receptor and/or complainants residence:

1. Attended screening measurements

o Conducted and data reviewed by ministry staff

2. Unattended noise monitoring

o Equipment set up by ministry staff
o Acoustic recordings taken by resident over ~1 week period
o Data reviewed by ministry Noise Engineers

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 Quantitative Noise Assessment
continued
Results of noise monitoring is used to inform whether a more
comprehensive assessment is warranted and/or if a Noise
Abatement Action Plan is required.

Best time to conduct noise monitoring is during times when:

background sound level is very low
<4 mps wind speed,
no biota or leaves
turbine(s) is/are operating near maximum capacity (85% or
greater).

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 Enbridge Wind Facility

Certificate of Approval issued in 2007 to the Enbridge Wind Facility.

Enbridge was commissioned in April 2009.
The Enbridge wind facility consists of 110 wind turbine generators.
In June 2011, ministry staff requested Enbridge undertake an acoustic
assessment and measurement.
The acoustic assessment began in December 2011.
Initial report submitted in February 2012.
The ministry assessed the report and found it incomplete.

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 Enbridge Wind Facility

Second report (draft) submitted in March with updated sound level reports
submitted in August 2013. Enbridge indicated that they were unable to
collect enough data at the 7 m/s wind speed to make any conclusion.
In December 2013 the ministry confirmed that the report was incomplete as
the acoustic audit was unable to attain sufficient ambient measurement data
points at the 7 m/s wind speed interval.
In April 2015 the ministry requested additional monitoring which took place
from July to September, 2015. Insufficient data was collected at higher wind
speeds as confirmed by the ministry in December 2015.
In 2016 the ministry began work on a updated Compliance Protocol with
revisions to the assessment methodology. This was posted to the EBR on
May 02, 2016. Comments received were incorporated into the revisions.

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 Enbridge Wind Facility

On April 19, 2017, the ministry released the updated Compliance

Protocol for Wind Turbine Noise 2017, NPC 350 (Compliance
Protocol).
The ministry conducted a preliminary review of the Acoustic Audits
using the updated Compliance Protocol and determined that the reports
do not contain sufficient information.
On June 30, 2017 the ministry informed Enbridge that the company
had two options: Supplement Current Audits with Existing Data or
conduct additional Audits as per 2017 Compliance Protocol.
On August 11, 2017 Enbridge confirmed that they would supplement
their studies with already available data.
Enbridge submitted information and proposals on November 15, 2017.

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 Armow Wind Facility

A REA was issued to the Armow Wind facility on October 9, 2013.

The Facility consists of 91 wind turbine generators.
The Armow wind facility became operational on December 7, 2015.
The ministry received 1st and 2nd Acoustic I-Audit Reports on February 8
and 22, 2017, as required by Armows REA.
On April 19, 2017, the ministry released an updated Compliance Protocol
for Wind Turbine Noise 2017, NPC 350 (Compliance Protocol).

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 Armow Wind Facility

The ministry conducted a preliminary review of the Acoustic Audits using

the updated Compliance Protocol and determined that the reports do not
contain sufficient information.
As a result the ministry requested additional data be submitted related to
the I-Audits at Armow.
The data was submitted on August 16, 2017.

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 Contact

Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change

Owen Sound District Office

Rick Chappell
District Manager

Rick.Chappell@ontario.ca or (519) 371-6022

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