Maureen Dagg’s e-mail to Mayor Levi
On Jul 9, 2014, at 4:57 PM, Maureen Dagg wrote:
Mr. Mayor,
Thanks for meeting with me last Thursday. I must say that I did come away feeling reassured – and that is what I was looking for. You said yourself that I am a very open-minded person, and that I try to investigate all sides.
I went next to the Riverwatchers, and had long meetings to try to understand why they are against Enerdu. It is a lot of work to understand all of what is going on, and these folks have both the expertise and the passion to volunteer to do this work.
I have to say that after hearing from them and their concerns, I am very worried indeed about this project, and I cannot support it in good conscience.
The way I see it is from a RISK/BENEFIT standpoint, or if you want another way of looking at it, a Balanced Scorecard Approach.
There is a very simple way to help people to understand whether they should support or stop Enerdu:
Benefit to Almonte = none
Risk to Almonte = flooding risk + ecosystem damage + production of unnecessary surplus power + disappearance of beauty + new danger to people + loss of recreational uses + effects on tourism + impacts on shoreline with fluctuating water levels + ….
No matter what, there are absolutely NO benefits to our town here!
We already produce hydro electricity in THREE places from Almonte to Appleton. This plant expansion potentially affects the ability of Appleton to produce electricity – so where is the gain?
Almonte is no longer an industrial town. We produce green electricity already.
If anything, Enerdu should have to convince US about why they should be allowed to go ahead. Instead, due to faulty legislation, they are getting green lights everywhere EXCEPT where it should matter the most: HERE. Enerdu has big money behind it, and big political connections. The people of Almonte are up against very powerful forces.
I sincerely hope that you will spend some time with the Riverwatchers, and try, like I did, to understand why Almonte should not support Enerdu.
Thanks again.
Mayor Levi’s response
Subject: Re: My conclusion so far
From: jlevi@mississippimills.ca
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2014 17:27:02 -0400
To: (deleted for privacy)
Everyone is entitled to there [sic] opinion both those for and against. I have meet with the Riverwatcher’s or there [sic] representatives on numerous occasions in the past. They brought forward their 4 major points then chose not to meet. I don’t know why they choose not to meet they will have to tell you. They appear to have difficulties dealing with the real facts. I enjoyed our meeting good discussion is always healthy .
Sent from my iPhone
