May 31, 2013
Ontario

Negative reaction to new green rules

Written by John Chippa, Editor | May 31st, 2013 | blackburnnews.com

There’s a lot of negative reaction to the province’s announcement that it is changing the rules on green energy projects. The Minister of Energy has announced that the Liberal government would be scrapping its controversial, unaffordable FIT program, and giving municipalities more say in renewable energy projects.

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, who is the P.C. Deputy Critic for Energy, has been calling for this since being elected 18 months ago. In a news release, Thompson stated this is another case where the Liberal government moved forward too fast and is now backtracking – at a huge cost to the taxpayers. She also feels this announcement also does nothing to solve the current problems, and help the municipalities and communities impacted by renewable energy projects, particularly wind turbines.

Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece find it insulting to municipalities counting on finally having a real say over industrial wind turbines. For the turbine proposal for North Perth and Perth East, Pettapiece says this announcement changes nothing.
Even for new projects, the MPP says it looks like the policy change would still leave municipalities - even if they are not willing hosts - at the mercy of the province, and they would still not have a veto.

And the President of Wind Concerns Ontario says it’s an “empty gesture”. Jane Wilson says the announcement is an admission that the Green Energy Act has been a failure, but there are still no details. She wonder what will happen to communities who don’t want the power projects but FIT contracts have been awarded.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/31/negative-reaction-to-new-green-rules/