Solar park house 'destroyed' in East Hawkesbury

A farmhouse in East Hawkesbury was severely vandalized in recent months and spray-painted with the message, "Solar: not on prime farm land."

The farmhouse is on land purchased in mid-July by Solaris Energy Partners Inc., an Ottawa-based company which sold the property to a larger developer, Enfinity Canada, in September.

The damage, reported to Hawkesbury police by Enfinity on October 16, is estimated at more than $25,000.

The destroyed property is located on one of two East Hawkesbury sites where Enfinity plans to build its Stardale solar park next spring.

Opposition to Stardale by local farmers and provincial farm groups sparked a series of Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearings this past spring, which eventually approved the developer's plans.

On November 26, The Review visited the ruined farmhouse, joined by former landowner Sidney MacCallum. His family had managed the 115-acre property as a dairy farm for over 100 years.

The family house's brick wall had been torn down while its windows and interior walls had been smashed. Debris was strewn across the house along with animal feces and calf bones; the floorboards were ripped apart and washroom fixtures were missing. Two barrels of oil were also left in the front entrance.

Empty bottles of alcohol were also found on the property.

On the outside of the house was spray-painted the word "solar," while painted in block letters on the barn's roof was the phrase, "Solar not on prime farm land."

MacCallum said he believed opponents to the solar park had done the initial damage, but suspected thieves equally took advantage of the unsecured property.

The phrasing of the graffiti is the exact same as on signs displayed on properties and roads across East Hawkesbury.

"I have a hard time understanding how anyone can be so insensitive, and so disrespectful and really, so bold as to walk in on private property and do what they've done here," said MacCallum. "There is no excuse for that."

Representatives of the "no solar on prime farm land" opposition campaign have denied any involvement in the vandalism.

Robin Hutcheson, press liaison for Solaris Energy Partners, said the opposition to the Stardale project "was the worst scenario for public opposition" in his experience and has "gone on long enough."

"There have been so many concessions made to [opponents] to hide this park from anyone's view," said Hutcheson, adding the eight to ten-foot solar panels will be blocked from view. "If you can't see the park, hiding between berms and hedge rows, what more to you want to do to this thing?"
He added the opponents "signed on" to such conditions at the time of the OMB hearings, and that initial concerns like stray voltage were proven to be impossible by independent engineers; the panels are connected to the distribution grid, not the customer grid, he noted.

Investigators at the Hawkesbury OPP are investigating the crime, though have confirmed that the damage likely took place on several occasions.
According to the Canadian Criminal Code, vandalism exceeding $5,000 in damage can carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Chris Young, general manager at Enfinity Canada, said there are new leads that have developed as a result of recent media attention.

With regard to security measures at the site, Young said there would be no additional security as a result of the vandalism. The security during and after construction, however, will be in line with general measures at any construction site or solar park: "They are high-security installations, and we do have things like infra-red cameras, alarm system, and security patrols. It's a case of ‘every market has its own issues,' and we take measures to protect our property."

The Stardale project will generate 30 megawatts of power, enough to supply about 5,400 homes. It was approved under the Ontario Power Authority's former renewable energy standard offer program (RESOP). The new legislation applies to the new feed-in tariff program, one that will likely attract more interest in rural Ontario, according to Solaris. Ontario has since passed legislation that bans solar park development over 100 kilowatts on class 1 and 2 farmland, though Hutcheson and Young said it wouldn't apply to the East Hawkesbury project in any case.

The MacCallum farm is certified as class 3.

Hutcheson said one possible plan for the farmhouse was to convert it into an energy-efficient model of alternative energy in historic homes; it might have also acted as a monument to the family, as well as a tourist attraction and open house for students.

"The day that I that I saw [the vandalism], I was heartbroken as to the opportunity that was lost - not to mention the legacy the MacCallum family has lost," he said.

"It was Sidney's late father, Guy, who told me he was really happy his farm was being turned over for future generations, as a ‘climate change positive' project. For a guy in his nineties, I found it remarkable that this was his perspective on the matter."

Both Hutcheson and Young said any educational or office plans for the site have now been suspended - a situation which leaves MacCallum dissapointed.

"The company wanted to have the house remain as a model green energy house, to welcome class trips and school groups. Now with the property destroyed, it's not likely to happen."