Wind Turbines and Health Courts uphold wind energy developments

摘要

Hanna v. Ontario (Attorney General) was at the centre of some controversy amongst those in the Ontario environmental and renewable energy industries. What seemed to start out as an attempt by a local resident to potentially quell wind power development in his community, turned into a full blown assault by his legal team on how the Ministry of Environment came up with a policy for setbacks on wind turbine development. The case began as a judicial review in the Ontario Divisional Court challenging various sections of the Renewable Energy Approvals regulation under the Environmental Protection Act that sets out the minimum setback requirements for wind energy developments.