Tuesday Jul 4, 2017
By John Miner
The writer farms in Huron County
Ontario’s plan to double its wind energy capacity will make a bad situation worse, according to a report published by the Council for Clean and Reliable Energy.
There is already so much intermittent wind [power] generation in the Great Lakes Region that demand is over-supplied, prices are collapsing and generation must be curtailed, said the report released in June by the council, a non-profit organization formed by volunteers from universities, public sector business leaders, and labour.
The report’s author Marc Brouillette, a principal consultant at Strategic Policy Economics, calls on the province to reconsider its commitment to ongoing deployment of wind resources.
“Analysis shows that wind intermittency makes it an unproductive and expensive choice that doesn’t meet customers’ needs and also undermines the price of electricity exports,” says the report titled Ontario’s High-Cost Millstone.
The opportunity to pull back from the plan to expend wind energy comes this summer when Ontario updates its long-term energy plan.
A key part of the problem with wind energy, according to the report, is that it is misaligned with demand because of its intermittent nature.
Ontario’s energy use is highest in the winter and summer and lowest in spring and late fall.
“This is almost a mirror image of wind production patterns: wind is highest in the spring and fall, when electricity needs are lowest, and lowest in summer when electricity demand peaks,” the report notes.
The result is that two-thirds of wind [power] generation is surplus to demand and must be wasted or dissipated either through forced curtailment of hydro and nuclear generation, or by increased exports to Quebec and the United States, generally at low prices.
… Jane Wilson, president of Wind Concerns Ontario, a coalition of citizens’ groups critical of Ontario’s wind energy program, said the report underscores what two Auditors General told the McGuinty and Wynne governments — they should not have launched the program without any cost-benefit analysis.
“Now, Ontarians are paying four times as much for wind power which is very invasive and has had a huge impact on rural communities for very little benefit. The need for more fossil fuel natural gas to back it up means it is not even achieving the simple environmental goals.
“For people living with the noise and vibration of the huge turbines interfering with their lives, this is outrageous,” Wilson said.
No new wind power approvals should be granted, and development of projects not yet in operation should be halted, she said.
Brandy Gianetta, Ontario regional director for the Canadian Wind Energy Association, said the report fails to fully recognize that wind energy is making a significant contribution to Ontario’s electricity supply needs today and this contribution will only grow in future years.
CanWEA contends that Ontario should be securing the lowest [cost] non-greenhouse gas emitting electricity to fill the gap and ensure it can meet its climate goals.
“Wind energy, which is now the least-cost option for new electricity generation available in Ontario, is the best available resource to meet both of those needs, Gianetta said in an email.
FACT CHECK: wind power contributes about 6% of Ontario’s electricity supply, at four times the cost of other power sources; wind power is not the “lowest-cost” option—the turbines are cheap to build but there are many other costs associated with wind power and its intermittency; wind power cannot replace hydro and nuclear—the fact is, coal was replaced by nuclear and natural gas, a fossil-fuel-based power source. Ms Gianetta did not trot out the usual wind industry myth of massive job creation in Ontario because that has proven not to be true, here as in other jurisdictions. Jobs are short-term and related to construction activity, in the main. Other costs associated with wind power such as property value loss, effects on tourism, and human costs in terms of effects on health, have never been calculated.
53 Comments
Sommer
The longer CANWEA, the MOECC and the wind companies refuse to protect people who are being harmed, the more costly the legal challenges will be for them.
People being harmed need to save all evidence of their pleas for protection.
Also people need to save all evidence of the loss of property values or added expenses incurred due to this ridiculously unfair imposition and harm.
Sommer
Everyone needs to see this raw footage regarding climate change data that has deceived so many:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIdTHFujDnI
Barbara
Some history
United Nations
Framework Convention On Climate Change
Conference Of The Parties, Geneva, 8 July 19 July, 1996, Sixty pages.
Annex I, begins on p. 28
(Agenda item 3 (a) )
Summaries of Opening Statements
P.30, No. 6
Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Much more at:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop2/15.pdf
Barbara
UN/United Nations Press Release, Dec.1, 1997
ENV/DEV/452
UNEP/20
Re: Elizabeth Dowdeswell & Insurance Industry
‘Insurance Executives To Discuss Impact Of Climate Change At International Conference In Tokyo, 2 December’
“UNEP’s alliance with the insurance industry was launched two years ago when the first insurance companies signed on the UNEP Statement of Environmental Commitment by the insurance industry.”
Read more at:
http://www.un.org/press/en/1997/19971201.ENVDEV45.html
Barbara
Second International Conference Of The United Nations Environment Programme Insurance Industry Initiative
(UNEP III) Tokyo, Japan, 2 December 1997
Keynote Addresses, (Summary)
1. Ms Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director, UNEP
Conference Report available at:
http://www.griequity.com/resources/InvestmentIndustry/vc/unepfiReport97.html
Barbara
ICTSD/International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
News archive, 1997
Nov.1, 1997
UNEP Insurance Initiatives for the Environment
“More than 70 insurance companies from 25 counties have come together under the United Nations Environment Programme to constitute the UNEP Insurance Industry Initiative for the Environment.”
Scroll down to:
Nov. 12-14, 1997, Toronto
‘Policy Forum on Greenhouse Gas Initiatives’
‘”Forum 12-14 November, UNCTAD and the Earth Council hosted the second session of the Policy Forum on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading in Toronto.”
Note: The First Policy Forum was held earlier in Chicago in 1997.
More at:
http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/news/unep-insurance-industry-initiative-for-the-environment
Events held prior to Kyoto, December 1997.
Barbara
GEN/Geneva Environment Network, Geneva, Switzerland
A network coordinated by UNEP
Earth Council, Geneva
“The Earth Council is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1992 on the initiative of Maurice Strong to support and empower people in building a more secure, equitable and sustainable future.”
Earth Council Geneva spearheads the e-Learning Centre for Sustainable Development.
More at:
http://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/?q=en/green_guide/earth-council-geneva
Barbara
United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change, Geneva, July 8-19, 1996
P.43, Re: Timothy Wirth, USA, Under-Secretary of State for Global Affairs.
Tim Wirth was a U.S. Senator from Colorado 1987-1993 and President of The United Nations Foundation (USA) 1998-2013.
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop2/15.pdf
Also: Wikipedia, Tim/Timothy Wirth.
Barbara
UN/United Nations
Archived press release: 20 October 2003
ENV/DEV/741-UNEP/175
“UNEP Launches New Initiative to Shift Investment to Sustainable Energy”
Includes quote attributed to Tim Wirth.
Read at:
https://www.un.org/press/en/2003/envdev741.doc.htm
Barbara
UN / United Nations
Archived press release: 27 April 2006
SG/2111-ECO/106
Secretary-General Launches ‘Principles For Responsible Investment’ – Backed By World’s Largest Investors
Re: UNEP FI and pension funds.
Note: Toronto meeting c.2005/2006
More at:
https://www.un.org/press/en/2006/sg2111.doc.htm
Barbara
UNEP FI: history and activities
UNEP Finance Initiative
Innovating Financing for Sustainability
‘A Global PPP for Climate Sustainability’, Feb. 2008, 14 pages
Includes key financial players.
UNEP FI & UNFCCC relationships.
At:
https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/ie/se/pp/adhoc/EE21ahge21_22Feb08/ECEF21Feb08/UNEPFI_Fischer.pdf
Barbara
UNEP FI
Positive Impact Manifesto
Positive Impact Finance
‘A Common Vision For The Financing Of The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 4 pages.
Manifesto Signatories as of June, 2017, (financial institutions)
List at:
http://www.unepfi.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/POSITIVE-IMPACT-MANIFESTO-JUNE-17.pdf
UNEP FI was created in the wake of the 1992 Earth Summit.
Barbara
UNEP FI
‘Evaluation of the UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)’, June 2016, 91 pages
P.24: Key UNEP FI Milestones From 1991/92 – 2015
Sept. 2015, New Report, “Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century’
“Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century” is the UNEP “Roadmaps” project which includes:
Australia
Canada, launched Jan. 2017
U.K.
U.S., launched Oct. 2016
Slow download, list at:
https://wedocs.unep.org/rest/bitstreams/10620/retrieve
Barbara
Or:
UN Environment / Evaluation Office
Link to: ‘The Evaluation of the UNEP Finance Initiative’, June 2016.
http://www.unep.org/evaluation/keywords/unep-fi
Barbara
UNEP FI
Changing Finance, Financing Change
‘Connecting Financial Systems And Sustainable Development: Market Leadership Paper / Advance Copy’, 2016, 23 pages.
Leadership Innovations
P.6, Sustainable Banking Leadership:
“Banks are the primary source of funding for renewable energy investment, and are critical sources of capital for infrastructure and SMEs.”
P.7, Green bonds – A Major New Asset Class
P.8, Sustainable Insurance Leadership
Pp, 18-20, End Notes: References
More at:
http://www.unepfi.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/MKT-LEADERSHIP-REPORT-AW-WEB.pdf
Barbara
UNEP / Brochure
‘The UNEP Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative’, 2002, 4 pages
UNEP: Energy Unit was established in 1996.
History information at:
http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/sefi_brochure_2003.pdf
Sommer
Here’s a video that explains how all of the above has been orchestrated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GYLrckbLCE
The documents you’ve listed, expose the signatories and major players.
Barbara
UNPRI
‘Fiduciary Duty In The 21st Century – Canada Roadmap’, 16 pages
P.3 Acknowledgements > Participants
Download report at:
http://unpri.org/download_report/27412
Barbara
The three UNEP FI / UNPRI Reports beginning with the Freshfiels Report (2005), the (2009) follow-up Report and the Roadmaps (2015) Project are known worldwide.
Should be no secret in Canada.
Barbara
UNPRI – Canada
Re: Canadian groups
Includes: Toronto RI Working Group Steering Committee
Click on: Canada Signatories
http://www.unpri.org/network/canada
Barbara
UNPRI
Global Networks And Outreach
PRI Networks are geographic groups of Signtories.
Network Managers includes Canada
Global Managers list at:
http://www.unpri.org/about/pri-teams/global-networks-and-outreach
Barbara
UNEP
Champions Of The Earth
2008 Laureates: North America
Timothy E. Wirth
http://staging.unep.org/champions/laureates/2008/tim.asp
Barbara
NRTEE
Key Canadian Experts And Stakeholders Related To Climate Change
‘Interim Report, October 3rd’, 1997, 24 pages
Scroll down to near the end of the Report.
From the USA:
Included:
Timothy Wirth
And others
List at:
http://warming.apps01.yorku.ca/library/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/NRTEE-1997-Key-Canadian-Experts-and-Stakeholders-Related-to-Climate-Change-Interim-Report.pdf
Barbara
UNEP FI
a.k.a.: Freshfields Report
‘A legal framework for the integration of environmental, social and governance issues into institutional investment’, October 2005, 154 pages.
P.5, Acknowledgments: Canadian Project members.
P.49, Canada
Institutional investments included:
Pension funds
Life insurance companies
Mutual Funds
At:
http://unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/freshfields_legal_resp_20051123.pdf
Barbara
UNEP / UNEP FI
Fiduciary responsibility
“Legal and practical aspects of integrating environment, social and governance issues into institutional investment’, July 2009, 88 pages
“A follow up to the AMWG’s 2005 Freshfields Report.”
UNPRI is included in this Report
http://unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/fiduciaryII.pdf
Barbara
For general information
‘A Progress Report On Sustainable America’, January 10, 1997
Chapter 3:’ International Leadership Task Force Report’
Click on Chapter 3
Re: Maurice Strong, the Earth Council, UNCCD, meetings, etc.
https://clintonwhitehouse2.archives.gov/PCSD/Publications/Progress_Report.html
Barbara
For general information
‘The Road to Sustainable Development: a Snapshot of activities in the United States’, March 1997
Preface
Re: Maurice Strong
https://clintonwhitehouse2.archives.gov/PCSD/Publications/Snapshot.html
Barbara
Benefits And Pensions Monitor, April 21, 2017
Commentary
‘Fiduciary Duty: ESG Disclosure 101’
Re: Ontario
ESG and SRI investments practice
‘Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century, Canada Roadmap’, 2017
Note the references at the end of this article.
Read at:
http://bpmmagazine.com/article/fiduciary-duty-esg-disclosure-101
Barbara
Institutional Investor, October 12, 2015
Commentary
‘Investors Seek Consensus on ESG as a Fiduciary Duty’
Re:
Ontario
Pension funds
UNPRI
‘Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century
“Fiduciary-duty in the 21st Century is a follow-up to a 2005 report commissioned by the U.N. by the London-based international law firm Fairfields Bruckaus Deringer.”
At:
http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/3496748/investors-pensions/investors-seek-consensus-on-esg-as-a-fiduciary-duty.html
Sommer
Regarding the pension funds information you’ve listed Barbara, there is a statement that is very significant right now in one of those documents:
“Plan administrators face corporate and personal liability for breach of fiduciary duty if they fail to adequately protect or invest the assets of a registered pension plan. ”
With the ‘writing on the wall’ for the industrial scale wind industry, and with leading edge financial advisors using terms like ‘stranded assets/debt’, these plan administrators would be wise to wake up sooner than later.
Sommer
Already two years ago, some people saw this all coming:
http://www.batr.org/corporatocracy/120215.html
Barbara
UNEP FI
Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition
“Mobilizing Financial Markets To Drive Economic Decarbonization”
Members include:
Toronto Atmospheric Fund
And others
http://unepfi.org/pdc/members
Barbara
UNEP FI
The Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition/PDC
http://unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/PortfolioDecarbonizationCoalition.pdf
Barbara
TAF
Impact Investing
“TAF is the only Canadian client of one of the leading global climate investment firms – Generation Investment Management – and a key client for a local green investment firm.”
http://www.taf.ca/impact-investing
Barbara
UNEP FI
News article: Portfolio Decarbonization Announces Two New Members has a link to:
‘From Disclosure To Action: First Annual Report Of The Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition’, 50 pages.
P.49, TAF information included.
Use link to the First Annual Report at:
http://www.unepfi.org/news/portfolio-decarbonization-coalition-announces-two-new-members
c.2015/16
Barbara
TAF, May 13, 2014
‘Profit Centre: Why we invest in sustainability’
Scroll down to the paragraph that includes:
Generation Investment Management
Greenchip Capital
http://www.taf.ca/profit-centre-why-we-invest-in-sustainability
Barbara
UNPRI
PRI/Principles for Responsible Investing
‘Report On Progress: Private Equity’, 2014
List of Private Equity Respondents To The PRI Reporting Framework 2014-5
Includes:
P.20
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, 2006
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, 2011
P.23
JCM Capital (Provisional Signatory), 2014
Download the Report at:
https://www.unpri.org/download_report/17371
Notinduttondunwich
‘I hope Canadians take away two things today: Our rights are not subject to the whims of the government of the day, and there are serious costs when the government violates the rights of its citizens’- Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould
Hmmmmmm…..
Richard Mann
Has anyone heard back from the Huron County Health Unit?
The investigation was initiated in March 2016. (Ontario’s HPPA, Health Protection and Prevention Act). Since then we have had one delay after another, and still no remedy for those living under turbines.
As of July 4th, 2017, Erica Clark informed me they have heard back University of Waterloo ethics and are now planning another ethics applications to address concerns raised.
Meanwhile I have been told that all communication of the ethics board, including the names an positions of the applicants, is confidential.
Richard Mann
Barbara
And the pea under the shells got moved again.
Sommer
Does anyone know how long a Health Unit may take legally to initiate an investigation once the ‘criteria for assessment’ has been met and publicly declared?
Notinduttondunwich
http://live.gridwatch.ca/home-page.html
How is this gonna work in Ontario when we have negative power right now…
Demand exceeds production ….
We are importing 1300 MW
We are exporting 781 MW
Negative 531MW
With contracts to 13 states and 60 million people will we be included in the distribution or will the very people who pay for the energy exported be left… in the dark….
Things to think about kids….
Doug Corner
I have started to watch the video. What is the background of this presentation before the panel?
Stan Thayer
Wind energy is now the most costly option for electricity generation in Ontario. We also recognize that wind energy is making a significant contribution to the disruption of the Ontario electricity supply and it can only get worse in future years. The manufacture and installation of the windmills generates huge amounts of greenhouse gasses and the service or repairs requires diesel engines generating a steady production of greenhouse gasses as long as that windmill operates.
Windmills in Ontario have proven to be an unreliable, unstable, unpredictable power source of last resort, especially when we need fossil fuels to excite them.
The amount being consumed by the windmill farms was not taken into consideration when that 6% figure was calculated.
I will make an attempt to inform Brandy Gianetta of the truthful facts that I have witnessed!
Stan Thayer CET
Barbara
Ontario Hydro
‘2014 Salaries Added to Ontario’s Hydro Costs’
Salaries list: http://www.ontario-hydro.com/salaries-2014
Also see the 2013 salaries list.
Note: 15 % Hydro One sold. As a result, Hydro One salaries are no longer required to be published on the Sunshine Club List.
Barbara
JCM Capital / JCM Power, Toronto
‘Our Team’
Donn Hanbidge is now with JCM / JCM Power
http://www.jcmcapital.ca/managementTeam.php
Notinduttondunwich
I wasn’t quite done watching that video Sommer….. how come I can’t see it now… another link please so I can finish it please….
Sommer
The video was removed. It was raw footage and most definitely bound to convince anyone who still doesn’t realize that climate data was manipulated in order to create alarm and submission to mitigation expenditures and experiments like industrial wind turbines. The original, unadjusted data has been saved. This information is now moving rapidly in a variety of ways because more and more people are waking up. It’s a real threat to all who were/are benefitting financially from the deception.
Notinduttondunwich
Thanks Sommer
Notinduttondunwich
http://globalnews.ca/news/3625220/oil-gas-development-indigenous-rights/
Notinduttondunwich
https://ajmarciniak.wordpress.com/2017/05/13/germanys-wind-power-debacle-worsens-too-much-power-one-day-none-the-next/
This will never happen here!!!
Notinduttondunwich
I’ve heard that hydro one has an employee investment plan that match a $5 contribution for every $1 an employee invests…. true?????