CPAI has been working on coming up with a series of questions for either Algonquin or Loyalist Township to answer. I have no control over what the final questions might look like or how they might be presented to the appropriate parties, but I did send them the following questions that I would personally like to have answers to.

1. Condemnations. At a number of existing wind projects nearby homeowners have been bought out by the developer after suffering significant disruptions to their lives. Will Windlectric be setting aside funding should this become necessary on Amherst Island?
2. Hunting. What is the company's position on hunting on the island if the turbines are built? Will there be a liability exposure to landowners for any damage caused by hunting?
3. Access. What about access to, for example, the owl woods - would school groups be freely allowed around them? Are there increased liability exposures for landowners due to letting the public close to the turbines?
4. Decommissioning. What are your plans for removing failed or obsolete turbines and how will that removal be funded? To what depth below the surface will you restore to the original state?
5. Right-of-ways. What width, height and turning radius requirements do you have? Will you be removing all the trees and structures within the right-of-way? Many electric and telephone cables cross the roads - how will will you handle moving these wires, should it become necessary?
6. Water. If someone experiences a change in their well or drainage, will you readily mitigate the problem, or will you force the injured party to prove you were to blame?
7. Transparency. There seems to be almost no information regarding the St. Leon project on the Internet. Will you be posting all your reports regarding AI on the Internet? If not, why not?
8. Environment. Has Algonquin ever done an environmental assessment? Will you be willing to do one for Amherst, or will you resist it? Did you do an environmental assessment for St. Leon? If so, is it part of the public record and could we see it? If the screening/assessment shows there will be environmental impacts, will you do whatever is needed to mitigate them, including decommissioning turbines? Will you be performing follow-up surveys to insure the impacts are minimized?
9. Noise. Did Algonquin do a noise study for St. Leon? If so, is it part of the public record and could we see it? Did you gather any data to confirm the results of that study? Will you be performing follow-up surveys to insure that the noise limits are met?
10. Complaints. What sort of process will you be willing to set up to handle noise, flicker and other complaints? Will this process have the ability to shut down turbines? Will the complaint record be made public, even if only in summary form?
11. Electric consumption. How much electricity will these turbines consume during their operation? How will this electricity be supplied? Since Amherst's present power supply isn't very robust, will this impact future building on the Island or perhaps the reliability of our grid?
12. Workers. Where will the workers be housed? If not on the Island, how will they get to work every day?
13. Dock. Assuming you won't be able to use the current docks and ferry for your materials, where do you plan on building your own dock? What sort of environmental screening will you be doing for this dock? Will this dock be a permanent or temporary structure? If permanent, will it ever be available for public use?
14. Staging area. How large of an area will you need for staging all the equipment? Will this area be permanently altered, i.e. have a gravel bed and buildings?
15. Collection grid. The Plan calls for below ground cables "except where environmental or site characteristics dictate otherwise". Under what circumstances will you be proposing above-ground cabling?
16. Eminent domain. If a needed right-of-way or easement isn't available, will you consider the use of eminent domain to obtain it?
17. Construction. Which resources (ferry, power, water, gravel, etc) from Amherst Island will the construction process use? Will there be power and transportation interruptions? If there are any interruptions, how will the residents be notified? Will the construction proceed during night hours and on weekends?
18. Health. Will you put a procedure in place to assist a resident to establish the probable cause of any seemingly turbine-related health complaint? Or will you force the resident to prove the cause and the impact before you will discuss taking responsibility for it? Will any health-related complaints be made public (assuming the complainant agrees)?