Shawn and Trish Drennan have had their injunction to stop the construction of a 140 turbine wind farm stayed by Ontario’s Superior Court.
But the fight between the Drennans and the K2 Wind Power Project has really just begun.
There are several turbines within eyesight of the Drennans’ farm north of Goderich, and Shawn would like nothing more than to keep them that distance away.
It’s why he tried to stop the K2 wind farm from being built, claiming 12 of the turbines that will be within two kilometres of his home may cause him physical and emotional harm.
"We’re happy that Justice Grace saw the merits in the case, maybe slightly unhappy that we have to start at the bottom go back to the Environmental Review Tribunal and not actually start in Superior Court."
But Jay Shukin of Capital Power, the company developing the K2 Wind Power Project, says they’re pleased with the judge’s decision.
"We put together what we believed were sound and reasonable arguments to the judge and he's agreed with us and overall we're happy with the outcome."
The Drennans will next take their case to the Environmental Review Tribunal, and say they have a new card to play, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, specifically the “right to life, liberty and security of the person.”
Shawn says "It actually levels the playing field for us and the wind company."
While it is the Drennan name on the lawsuit and that’s who will be taking this case to the Environmental Review Tribunal, they do represent thousands of Ontarians fighting wind turbines across the province.
Capital Power declined to say whether they are worried about the Drennans’ appeal, saying they're instead focusing on getting government approval to get shovels in the ground and turbines in the air as early as next summer.
