Stop the Paqt'smawei Sipu Wind Project Until Outstanding Questions Are Answered

We, the undersigned residents and community members, are asking the Government of New Brunswick to pause construction of the Paqt'smawei Sipu Wind Project until important environmental questions have been fully answered and made public.

Many residents support the shift to renewable energy, but that support does not extend to these specific projects, built the way they have been built. The environmental cost is not hypothetical: forest cleared, wildlife habitat altered, bird and bat populations disrupted, and watersheds and soil stability affected on land that was previously undeveloped. Residents are not opposed to wind power. They are opposed to how these projects have been sited and built, and to a review process that never required those local, often irreversible impacts to be weighed seriously against the broader climate benefit before construction began.

This is not a petition against wind power, per se. It is a petition for transparency, accountability and responsible decision-making.

The project's own Environmental Impact Assessment documents show that several important studies were still incomplete when the project received provincial approval. We believe the public deserves answers before construction begins, not afterwards.

This petition supports responsible development that protects New Brunswick's natural environment for future generations.

Why we are concerned

According to the project's own reports:

• Species at risk, including endangered birds and bats, have been identified within the project area.

• Important wildlife surveys, including bat roost investigations and additional bird monitoring, were still incomplete when approval was granted.

• A complete wetland delineation had not been finished before approval.

• Part of the project overlaps critical habitat for endangered Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon, and federal review remains outstanding.

• One proposed turbine overlaps a Nature Legacy Protected Area.

• Parks Canada formally objected to the project because of impacts on Fundy National Park.

Residents also remain concerned about noise, shadow flicker, rural roads, water, wildlife, recreation and the long-term character of our community. These are reasonable questions that deserve clear public answers.

We are asking the Province to:

1. Pause construction until outstanding environmental studies have been completed and independently reviewed.
2. Publicly report on compliance with all conditions attached to the project's approval.
3. Confirm the protections that will apply to Hamilton Lake, nearby streams and wildlife habitat and apply those same protections to the rest of New Brunswick's waterways and wildlife habitats. 
4. Complete all outstanding federal approvals before construction proceeds.
5. Meet directly with local residents and community organizations before further work begins.
6. Major industrial projects should be built on complete information, not incomplete studies. If the project can withstand full public scrutiny, then it should welcome it.

Note on this photo: The road width, from edge to edge leading to the turbine is 55ft (almost 16 metres), and the area cleared for a setback from the road is an additional 55ft on either side, for a combined 165 feet of open and cleared space between the treelines.

 

Note on the main photo: These wind turbines were built in 2020 at the Wocawson Energy Project near Penobsquis, about 20 km northeast of Sussex. These wind turbines are approximately 180 metres from ground to blade tip, which is the same height as a 60-storey building.  This is the same size of the turbines proposed for the Paqt'smawei Sipu Wind Project .
The space cleared around the individual large turbine measures 400ft (115 metres) on one side and 500ft (144 metres)  on the other.

If you believe decisions affecting our communities should be transparent, evidence-based and accountable, please add your name below.