Fewer than a dozen people turned out for a rally in St. John’s on Friday in support of a federal review of World Energy GH2’s wind-to-hydrogen project.

The company wants to install more than 160 wind turbines on the Port au Port Peninsula, with an equal number in the Codroy Valley, as part of the massive development.

Members of the Council of Canadians and Social Justice Co-op set up at noon outside federal Impact Assessment Agency offices at the Cabot building in downtown St. John’s.

They say an independent federal review is crucial, claiming the provincial process is mired in bias and conflict.

Helen Forsey is with the local branch of the Council of Canadians.

“The provincial government is so clearly actually a proponent itself so it can’t be unbiased,” she said. “The government’s position is we are promoting big time, big projects, all over the island — and who knows, next in Labrador — to have mega-hydrogen for export, not for local use. Meanwhile, there’s Muskrat Falls. So, is this another boondoggle? I think so.”

Forsey also scoffed at descriptions of the project as environmentally clean and green.

“I think it’s a disgrace. I think it’s anything but green. I think that the government and the proponents are climbing onto the green, climate change bandwagon and trying to take advantage of it to make millions and make a mark,” said Forsey. “And the Port an Port Peninsula and Codroy Valley will be left with these towers, way higher than Confederation Building …”

For the record, Confederation Building is 64 metres tall while the wind turbines will be about 200 metres high, including the blade.

Forsey also called public consultations involving the province and World Energy GH2 as “fake” and “laughable.”

The federal minister is expected to decide by October 3rd whether to order an assessment of the project.