October 22, 2013
Ontario

County questions need for more wind farms

By Bill Tremblay | Orangeville Banner | 22 October 2013 | www.mississauga.com

If you can cancel gas plants, you can cancel wind farms.

That’s Dufferin County’s message to Premier Kathleen Wynne.

On Oct. 10 county council approved a motion to call upon the premier to terminate all contracts with wind power generators that are not connected to Ontario’s power grid.

The motion was altered from its original message, which included reference to a Dufferin Wind. Coun. Ed Crewson, who usually declares a conflict of interest on items related to Dufferin Wind, moved the motion.

“It may not be appropriate that he is the mover of that motion,” said Coun. Don MacIver.

Crewson, however, amended his motion to exclude the company planning to build 49-turbines in Melancthon.

“This particular motion doesn’t speak to a specific project,” Crewson said. “It’s broader in scope.”

The motion is inspired by the province’s cancelation of two power plants in the GTA, which cost about $1.1 billion. As well, when supply exceeds demand, wind farm operators will be paid a reduced rate to cease generating power as of Sept. 11.

Since 2006, Ontario has generated a surplus of electricity and wind farm operators were paid for power regardless of need.

According to the Ministry of Energy, paying wind farm operators to not generate electricity will save Ontario at least $200 million every year.

Currently, wind power generates about 2,100 megawatts of electricity province-wide. However, that number will nearly triple when all wind projects connect to the grid.

Crewson’s motion aims to question why the province is allowing new projects to develop, despite the lack of need for more energy.

Following the approval of the letter to the premier, Coun. Bill Hill tabled a motion to declare Dufferin County as an unwilling host to wind farm developments.

Melancthon, Amaranth and Mulmur have already declared themselves as unwilling hosts to new industrial turbines.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/10/22/county-questions-need-for-more-wind-farms/