Municipalities vote for more say in wind power locations
May 25, 2016
Hard as it is to believe, with electricity bills soaring, hydro and nuclear power being wasted, and Ontario’s surplus power being sold at bargain-basement rates to neighbouring U.S. jurisdictions, Ontario still plans to let contracts for 600 more megawatts of expensive, intermittent utility-scale wind power.
The new bid process begins later this year.
Although the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) claims the citizens of Ontario have a “say” in where these huge power projects — which result in considerable impact on the environment and communities forced to have them — they still can’t “say” NO.
In March, Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli said it was “virtually impossible” for a power developer to get a contract for wind power without municipal support—then the IESO announced five new contracts, three of which were in Not A Willing Host communities. One, Dutton Dunwich, had even held a referendum on the wind power bid, which resulted in a resounding 84 % NO vote, but a contract was awarded there anyway.
Now, more than 60 Ontario municipalities have told the Ontario government under Premier Kathleen Wynne that they don’t think that’s right — in future, the municipalities say, local or municipal support must be a mandatory requirement in wind power bids, not just a way to get more points in the bidding process for Large Renewable power projects.
Last evening, council in Prince Edward County voted unanimously to send that motion to Queen’s Park. The County is currently battling two high-profile wind power projects on the basis of the clear danger to wildlife, specifically the endangered Blandings Turtle and the Little Brown Bat. The County is also on the flyway for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds each spring and fall.
Among the cities and municipalities which have passed the resolution are the City of Kawartha Lakes (which is itself the size of a county) and the second largest city in Ontario and Canada’s Capital city, Ottawa.
“Communities have good reasons for not wanting these huge power projects,” says Wind Concerns Ontario president Jane Wilson. “Wind power represents high impact on the environment, both natural and social, for very little benefit. What’s worse, wind power on this scale has no benefit in actions aimed at climate change. Everyone wants to do what’s best for the environment —this isn’t it.”
A list of municipalities that have passed the motion to date is here.
14 Comments
Pat Cusack
Sunny Justin is in Japan encouraging industries to invest here while Our Mz Wynne encourages skyrocketing electricity rates to drive out the industry that exists. Go figure. Bernie
Barbara
Companies do long range planning and hire consultants to look at the whole picture before investing in areas.
Right now the picture is dim for investing in Ontario and maybe the rest of Canada.
If companies do locate here, they won’t be in any business that uses lots of electricity or emit CO2.
Western Mark
Barbara
The only investment Ontario wants (or needs apparently) is in green energy infrastructure. As long as the profits we pay are good the foreign money will continue to flow in.
Barbara
Right Mark, but other companies won’t come to Ontario unless they receive subsidies too?
The presence of ENGOs that might pressure/harass businesses on environmental issues is another deterrent to locating in Ontario.
Barbara
NASDAQ
Caisse-de Depot et Placement du Quebec, Montreal/”Caisse”
Stock ownership;
NextEra Energy Inc., 4,540,966 shares
OPower, 7,196 shares, which had/has contracts with the Ontario government of undisclosed amount.
http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/institutional-portfolio/caisse-de-depot-et-placement-du-quebec-68712
Caisse also owns a big stake in Invenergy Wind.
—————————————————————————-
Al Gore’s Generation Investment Management portfolio includes a stake in OPower shares.
Barbara
TD World/Transmission & Distribution, Jan.13, 2016
‘Opower Demand Response Delivers Strong Results for Utilities’
“Opower has announced new results from a series of Behavioral Demand Response implementations at utilities across North America.”
Included: OTTAWA HYDRO
http://www.tdworld.com/demand-response/opower-demand-response-delivers-strong-results-utilities
Pat Cusack
Neither of the above comments by Barbara and “Western Mark” make any sense to me. I have no idea what “green energy infrastructure means”. I really object to having people live off my retirement income as well. My husband Bernie’s comment is very valid. I shudder to think what the Liberals will dream up next.
Barbara
Green energy infrastructure = IWTs, solar farms, transmission lines for starters.
People should ask about anything they don’t understand or know about. Terms as an example.
We are all learning together about this situation.
jcw
Just received my April Hydro None bill…. small restaurant in the heart of SWO… $2161.78 !!!!! THAT’S 30.8 CENTS PER KWH!!! Good thing we retrofitted and are using 100 kwh per day less…. wait a minute.. . I need to use my air conditioning. … oh oh…. $ 4000. Hydro None bill next month…. I guess I’ll just have to pass all the savings on to my customers…. what a joke this government is…. pat Cusack you’re right …. when they are done draining the life out of small business and anyone else foolish enough to stay or invest in ontario then they will begin skimming off pensions or whatever they deem fair game to support the green energy act!!
Notice to investors in ontario!!! DON’T! !!!!
Bert
JCW, Just wait till airco season starts. Either your customers leave because of the heat and humidity in your dining room, or you work for a loss because of the hydro bill.
jcw
Unlike our liberal government….. I respect the people who pay my bills and run the a/c for my customers anyways….. yes it’s outrageous the $$$$ it costs to run a simple a/ c unit but if I don’t I’m out of business…. wait a second… that’s what premier Wynnd wants!!! Last year we cancelled our family vacation to help pay the hydro bill…. looks alot like the same this year!!! ????…. I will post the amounts in the months to follow….
notinduttondunwich
Wow…. wonder if any of those municipalities realize that we here in Dutton Dunwich we said NO…..
Dutton Dunwich held a public referendum and it was still NO!!!!
Municipality deemed itself a NON WILLING HOST which means NO!!!!!
Municipal officials met with the IWT companies, government officials as well as the IESO to let them know we were a big fat NO!!! We even stamped it…. locked it… with no rub outs!!!
We were still awarded the contracts! !!!
If municipalities think that passing a NO motion or a non willing motion will help you then I got bad news for you kids!!!
Premier Wynnd does not care to hear your complaints or objections for that matter… the only thing she is concerned with right now is forcing everyone out of rural ontario so she can put up more of her wind turbines!!! Setbacks will soon be only 250 meters…. so you can fit more IWT in on less land!!!
I’ve got a great deal on unregistered pitchforks if anyone would like some…. it seems to be the only way to get their attention on the NO thing!!!
Wind Concerns Ontario
The other communities are aware of Dutton Dunwich and the referendum. Contrary to your statement about Not A Willing Host delarations being of no help, a team of academic writers published an article earlier this year in which they stated the Not A Willing Host campaign forced the Ontario government to go back and revise its whole procurement process. As a result, the government claimed more input from municipalities, but still no veto. The present municipal campaign lets the government know, that has now been proven to be baloney, and we want better.
notinduttondunwich
OK kiddies gather around….its story time…. today story was told to me as a child by a great man wise beyond his years…. I did not understand the true meaning till I got older….. I hope you see the meaning in it…..
The Scorpion and the Frog……
One beautiful sunny afternoon a frog lay basking on a Lilley pad in a small pool of water beside a creek…. suddenly a scorpion appeared and made his way to the edge of the pond… “hey frog…. what you doing???”…. asked the scorpion. .. the frog replied …” I’m sunning myself having a few flies just minding my own business….”
“hmmmm……..wanna do me a small favour ??? Inquired the scorpion…. reluctantly the frog asked the scorpion “what could a frog to do for a scorpion????”
“Welllllll….. I was just wondering if you would be so kind to give me a lift across the creek…… I obviously can’t swim and really need to get across the creek to a very important scorpion meeting…. what do you say frog…. help a scorpion out????”
“Well I don’t think that’s a good idea!!!! ” snapped the frog
” Why not frog???? …. I just need a simple little ride across the creek!!!”
“Well ” said the frog ” first of all I’m a frog and you’re a scorpion that’s why!!!!! You will sting me and I will die!!!!”
The scorpion quite insulted by the frogs response said ” frog that’s ridiculous …. think about it !!! If I sting you then we shall both drown and that’s not good for either of us…!!!” The frog looked at the scorpion and thought for a minute” “So frog what do you think????” “Surely I wouldn’t sting you for that means we both will die as I can’t swim…. remember!!!” The frog just looked at the scorpion. …. “ok I guess I could help you out….” the frog said reluctantly. .. The frog let the scorpion climb upon his back and they set off across the creek… the water was cool and clear and as the frog and the scorpion got to the middle of the creek the frog felt a sharp pain in his back….. “” scorpion you stung me!!!!!! ” cried the frog ” Why would you do that stupid scorpion now we’re both going to drown!!!!” The scorpion climbed up to the frogs head and looked into the frogs eyes now beginning to close…… and said ” SORRY FROG….. IT IN MY NATURE….”