April 9, 2013
Ontario, Press releases

MPP Bailey pledges support for the Ensuring Affordable Energy Act

Bob Bailey, MPP - Sarnia-Lambton | April 9, 2013 | www.bobbaileympp.comBob Bailey, MPP - Sarnia-Lambton | April 9, 2013 | www.bobbaileympp.com

SARNIA, ON – Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey announced today that he would support Ontario PC MPP Lisa Thompson’s private members bill called the Ensuring Affordable Energy Act, a comprehensive bill that if passed, would bring the following changes to the wind turbine industry.

This bill contains six key pillars:
• Wind turbines will only be placed in willing host communities, and municipalities will be given full veto over wind turbine projects in their communities;
• Wind power must be affordable—meaning the cost per kilowatt hour must line up with other sources of generation;
• The costly feed-in tariff (FIT) program will be eliminated;
• Municipalities will have the ability to decide whether or not they want to promote wind energy;
• The Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine will be protected from wind turbines; and
• Municipalities will receive their planning powers for renewable energy back

“St. Clair Township, Enniskillen, Oil Springs, Petrolia, Point Edward, Sarnia and Plympton-Wyoming and the residents who live within those municipalities should have a say on the location of an industrial wind farm or industrial solar farm in their community,” said MPP Bailey.

“I hear regularly from constituents across Sarnia-Lambton with real concerns regarding wind turbines being built near their homes,” said MPP Bailey. “One mother told me that she felt she had ‘no choice, no guarantee and no voice’ in regard to a wind turbine slated to be built to tower over her property. I think the Premier is completely out-of-touch on this issue. I believe that the people of Sarnia-Lambton know best when it comes to making decisions regarding our communities, not bureaucrats in downtown Toronto offices.”

“The Premier announced during her leadership tour, which included Sarnia, that she supported local communities having their say on energy projects,” said MPP Bailey. “So I expect Premier Wynne and her Liberal colleagues to be true to their word and vote in support of this bill. It’s the right thing to do.”

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URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/09/mpp-bailey-pledges-support-for-the-ensuring-affordable-energy-act/