By Paige Aarhus

BIG ISLAND— A Prince Edward County crop farmer set to install five new wind turbines on his property is rolling his eyes after one local man launched a legal challenge against the proposed project.

Russell Wager owns 800 acres of farmland on Big Island and had been in talks with the provincial government to use some of the land for wind turbines.

“As landowners we support the project. We find it very frustrating when these special interest groups pop up with their doom and gloom,” he said.

Wager, who grows corn, wheat and soybeans, said his family has lived on the land for generations, and argued he’s protecting his children’s future by pursuing green energy options.

“We want our kids to work and have jobs, and clean energy is about money. It’s a good fit for the community and country, so if we can get some steady income this way, bring it on. We’re not ashamed to admit it’s about money too,” he said.

The controversy kicked off last month when local resident Ian Hanna filed an application for judicial review after petitions failed to stop plans for five turbines on Wager’s land, about a kilometer away from Hanna’s home.

Hanna and local group Wind Concerns Ontario said they worry about reported health effects of residents living close to wind turbines, including sleep deprivation, nausea, depression and severe headaches.

Energy Minister George Smitherman had responded to the legal challenge by calling it “business as usual,” and defending Ontario’s wind turbine projects, which are projected to create 50,000 new jobs.

Wager was a little more vocal about his frustration.

“We aren’t going to put our faith in special interest groups. We live here, we want a future for our families and we welcome construction and change. Through the years we’ve experienced tremendous change. Some folks have this romantic idea of country living, but life does change and we want it to change,” he said.

What’s been especially frustrating, said Wager, is dealing with public outcry during harvest.

“We don’t have time to fight the fight when we’re combining. We get in at night and we’re done,” he said.