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Green Energy Act: Ontario government still sees no evil
April 27, 2013 by Ross R. McKitrick and Kenneth P. Green in Toronto Sun
April 27, 2013 by Ross R. McKitrick and Kenneth P. Green in Toronto Sun
Earlier this month the Fraser Institute published a report sharply critical of one of the flagship policies of the Ontario government, the Green Energy Act (GEA). We found the Act is costing Ontario over $5 billion annually but yields negligible environmental benefits, and that equivalent or greater benefits could have been achieved using conventional pollution control measures at less than one-tenth the cost.
Ontario's Green Energy Act sparks spirited debate
March 17, 2013 by Valerie MacDonald in Northumberland Today
March 17, 2013 by Valerie MacDonald in Northumberland Today
The Green Energy Act, with its goal of continuing to increase alternative energy as Ontario faces the need to update its power-generating and transmission infrastructure, is being hotly debated by members of the public, municipal councils, provincial politicians and those in the business of creating power. The following are two sides of the energy story.
Last year, Ontario spent millions of dollars paying other states and provinces to take our excess power, most of it from renewables. But the contracts between the province and wind companies gave wind power first dibs on the grid, meaning Ontario was paying other jurisdictions to take some of most expensive power, while spilling cheaper hydroelectric power at Niagara Falls.
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Impact on Economy]
The new rules will allow the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to switch off the flow of power from wind turbines if there's too little demand.
Wind operators will be compensated.
Surplus wind power could cost Ontario ratepayers up to $200 million: IESO
February 27, 2013 by John Spears in Toronto Star
February 27, 2013 by John Spears in Toronto Star
Surplus wind power could cost Ontario ratepayers millions and compromise power system, says electricity system operator. It says renewable energy market rules must change. ...The IESO has drawn up new rules that will allow it to shut output from wind and solar operators ...The renewable power generators are fighting the new rules vigorously.
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Tax Breaks & Subsidies]
Wilson introduces legislation to restore local control over wind and solar projects
February 20, 2013 by Jim Wilson MPP
February 20, 2013 by Jim Wilson MPP
Wilson and the Ontario PC Party have been calling for a moratorium on industrial wind energy projects until third party health and environmental studies have been done. They have also committed to scrapping the feed-in tariff that is increasing hydro bills by rewarding energy developers up to fifteen times the average price of hydro to produce power no matter if it is needed or not.
Wind and solar power firms fight $100 million rule change
February 1, 2013 by John Spears in The Star
February 1, 2013 by John Spears in The Star
The renewable energy firms say that's how much they'll lose if the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) restricts the flow of wind and solar power onto the electricity grid when the demand for power is low, but winds are high.
Wind turbines ‘killing jobs' PC energy critic contends
November 23, 2012 by Patrick Raftis in Wellington Advertiser
November 23, 2012 by Patrick Raftis in Wellington Advertiser
Pettapiece said his party isn't opposed to "green energy" but does feel that Ontario's current approach to wind power is not efficient.
"We're not against green energy, but it's got to be affordable. This is not."
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Ontario loses WTO ruling on green energy policies: reports
October 16, 2012 by Richard Blackwell in Globe and Mail
October 16, 2012 by Richard Blackwell in Globe and Mail
If the preliminary report stands, Ontario might have to dismantle parts of its controversial "feed-in-tariff" program that pays high prices to producers of wind and solar power, as long as they buy a certain proportion of their equipment in the province.
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Tax Breaks & Subsidies]
Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter says he is surprised Amherst's town council has asked him to delay the development of new wind turbines in the area.
Ottawa takes new interest in the health effects of wind energy
July 12, 2012 by Steve Chase in The Globe and Mail
July 12, 2012 by Steve Chase in The Globe and Mail
The Harper government, an ardent defender of oil sands extraction, is taking a keen new interest in Ontario voters' concerns that wind power generation may be harmful to humans. ...Ontario's Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty has run into resistance from rural landowners over wind turbines - opposition that may have cost him his majority in the last election.
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Impact on People]
"The fact the federal government feels this study is necessary is reason enough to put a halt to any more wind turbines being built in Ontario right now.'' ..."The house vibrates, it becomes like a guitar. The noise and the vibration enters the home and it actually increases the effect.''
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"There's a reduction in coal use from 2010, but it's not being replaced primarily by green-powered wind energy," Fedeli said.
"That hole is being filled mostly by power from other sources. For example, the output increase from natural gas plants was 36% greater than that of wind."
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Impact on Economy]
By the end of 2013, Ontario household power rates will be the second-highest in North America (after PEI), and they will continue to accelerate while they level off in most other jurisdictions. Even more alarming for Ontario's economic competitiveness, businesses and industrial customers will be hit by almost $12-billion in additional costs over the same period.
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Tax Breaks & Subsidies]
Under a review of the province's Feed-In Tariff program released March 22, wind farm developers - even those with projects in the pipeline for years - may have to reapply for the Feed-In Tariff contracts that guarantee them a market and price for their power.
He said by stripping the municipalities of power, they took away the peoples' only opportunity to express their concern or object to any wind or solar projects at public meetings or information sessions which would have been required prior to the Green Energy Act.
Ontario lowers premiums for wind, solar power; gives local councils more say
March 18, 2012 by Keith Leslie in The Canadian Press
March 18, 2012 by Keith Leslie in The Canadian Press
The Progressive Conservatives blame the "massive subsidies" for creating what they call a gold rush in Ontario's power system.
"The feed-in-tariff, the green energy program, has created a huge economic bubble, and we know that all bubbles will one day burst," Hudak said.
"You can't power a 21st century economy based on when the sun shines and the wind blows."
Shortly after the premier delivered his speech, he made a promise to give municipalities more say on green energy projects.
He told reporters the province will "do a better job in terms of incorporating the local perspective on this" when it completes a review of its feed-in-tariff program for green energy projects by the end of March.
Builder hopes to blow winds of change, lift ban on wind turbines
January 20, 2012 by Matthew Van Dongen and Meredith MacLeod in TheSpec
January 20, 2012 by Matthew Van Dongen and Meredith MacLeod in TheSpec
The Ministry of Energy says a provincial moratorium on wind projects enacted almost a year ago will remain in place until the province is satisfied such projects are safe. It is currently studying an offshore wind turbine development in Sweden and another planned pilot project in Ohio and will not approve any projects in Ontario until results are known.
Feds drafting regulations on spacing wind turbines from homes
January 17, 2012 by Dave Hutton and Jeff Davis in The Star Phoenix
January 17, 2012 by Dave Hutton and Jeff Davis in The Star Phoenix
"At this point the best science says you should be two kilometres away," McMurtry said. "I'm a clinician. The proponents have not engaged with people who have suffered."
Health Canada says the draft guidelines will undergo a public consultation phase prior to their finalization.
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Impact on People]