Wind Development in Newfoundland
The Rise of Wind Development in Newfoundland
Over 500,000 hectares of Crown land has been approved for development by four companies, paving the way for extensive windmills and hydroammonia production facilities on the island. The next step, which some have completed, is to undergo environmental assessment to identify concerns of wind development areas on the island. Here, we highlight some of the key areas of concern surrounding Newfoundland’s wind energy development.
Crown land is being privatized for foreign-based wind-hydrogen projects at an alarming rate in the past 2 years. Compared to the province’s progress to assess need for protection of sensitive areas, we are concerned that the well being of our natural areas is being overlooked.
We ask that the province consider the species and ecosystems that need protection most before continuing with wind energy development.
Industrial development comes with a need for extensive infrastructure and activities. Roads, transport lines, and materials required to construct and maintain wind facilities lead to habitat fragmentation and easier access to remote areas, disrupting Newfoundland’s untouched landscapes.
We call on the province to consider the environmental impacts of large-scale industrial activity, including the impacts of complimentary construction like road access, in wind development planning.
The location of the approved wind development areas borders some current and proposed protected areas in the province, bringing forth concerns about the impacts of these industrial activities on the wildlife and habitats within the protected areas themselves. These impacts may include noise disturbance, watershed pollution, and increased human access through adjacent roads, which all pose serious threats to the wildlife and ecosystems within these zones, potentially undermining the very purpose of the protected aeras.
We ask that the province consider ways to mitigate the impacts of industrial activities that may bleed into protected and proposed protected areas.
Many communities and groups across Newfoundland have voiced their concerns related to the rapid progress of these wind-development projects.
We urge that the province create more opportunities for community engagement and integrate community feedback and concerns into the wind development decisions from the province going forward.
Make Your Voice Heard!
The province needs to hear from you now as to what you want to see in your area.