March 17, 2016
Ontario

Wind energy saps Ontario

The approval of more wind farm projects in Chatham-Kent is another nail driven into the heart of Ontario’s economy according to Lambton-Kent Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton.

McNaughton ripped the Green Energy Act during a coffee shop gathering in Wallaceburg Monday morning attended by about 30 people.

“These projects project themselves as of economic benefit to the communities but for every dollar local municipalities receive, Ontarians trade off billions more in terms of energy costs and job losses,” he said.

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) last week approved five projects across Ontario including the Romney Wind Energy Centre in southwest Chatham-Kent and the Otter Creek Wind Farm north of Wallaceburg. Each would have approximately 20 turbines in the municipality.

An application for a further development of the former Chatham and Dover townships in North Kent for 90 turbines is being prepared for IESO approval

All projects were approved by Chatham-Kent Council last year and according to projections provided by the operators, the facilities could being as much as $20 million over the life of the projects.

McNaughton said since electricity by turbines is heavily subsidized, more turbines mean higher energy bills.

“We are driving manufacturing out of Ontario,” he said. “The economic hole being dug by the provincial Liberals is deep enough. We don’t need to dig deeper.”

In a media release, McNaughton’s office stated, “On Jan. 1, Hydro customers were hit when the 10 per cent rebate was removed from residential electricity bills. This came on top of significant rate increases on both Nov.1 and May 1 of 2015. In fact, on peak hydro rates are now four times what they were when the Liberals first came to office.”

Not only do the turbines make no economic sense, they are clearly against the wishes of Ontarians, McNaughton said.

URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/03/17/wind-energy-saps-ontario/

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