NEWS RELEASE
Municipalities call on Ontario government to make municipal support mandatory for wind power bids
Plevna, June 15, 2016—
Seventy-five municipalities have now endorsed resolutions that call on Ontario’s Independent Electrical System Operator (IESO) to make formal Municipal Support a mandatory requirement in Ontario’s next round of procurement for renewable energy projects.
Mayor Ron Higgins of North Frontenac, who put forward a resolution now supported by other municipalities, says making municipal support mandatory is key to fairness in the process. “It will force proponents to seriously address local concerns when developing these proposals, rather than just going through the motions,” he says.
The IESO process allowed municipalities to express their concerns about wind power projects but that had little impact on the outcome, Higgins says. In spite of the fact that then Energy Minister Chiarelli said a contract in an unwilling community was “virtually impossible,” three of five wind power contracts were awarded in municipalities that did not support the projects proposed by developers.
The municipality of Dutton Dunwich, which also created a mandatory support motion, held a referendum on the wind power project bid there — 84 percent of residents said no. The municipality is now fighting a contract award.
Municipalities across Ontario support these resolutions, including former Energy Minister Chiarelli’s home municipality of Ottawa. Municipalities in Northern Ontario also endorse the resolution.
“Communities know what type of development is appropriate and sustainable,” says North Frontenac Mayor Higgins. “Our resolution points out that utility-scale wind power does not reduce greenhouse gas emissions or appreciably benefit the environment. In fact, in our case, it would have harmed it.”
The recent Environmental Review Tribunal decision revoking the approval for the Ostrander Point wind turbine project underscores the importance of community input into the process of awarding contracts and approving power projects. The community in Prince Edward County went through two appeal hearings and two hearings in court before succeeding in its goal of protecting the environment and endangered wildlife from a power project.
Recent feedback published by the IESO shows that the current bid process was resoundingly condemned by municipal officials and community groups for a lack of openness and transparency.
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Contact: Mayor Ron Higgins, North Frontenac, 613-884-9736
Mandatory Municipal Support Resolution
- Adelaide-Metcalfe, Middlesex County
- Alfred & Plantagenet, Prescott-Russell County
- Amaranth, Dufferin County
- Asphodel-Norwood. Peterborough County
- Algonquin Highlands, Haliburton County
- Arran-Elderslie, Bruce County
- Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Huron County
- Bayham, Elgin County
- Bluewater, Huron
- Brockton, Bruce
- Brooke-Alvinston, Lambton
- Bruce Mines, Algoma District
- Cavan-Monaghan, Peterborough
- Central Elgin, Elgin
- Central Huron, Huron
- Chamberlain, Timiskaming District
- Chatsworth, Grey County
- Clarington, Region of Durham
- Dutton-Dunwich, Elgin
- East Ferris, Nippissing District
- Elgin, County of
- Essex, Essex County
- Enniskillen, Lambton County
- Gananoque, Leeds and Grenville County
- Georgian Bluffs, Grey
- Grey Highlands, Grey
- Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Peterborough
- Hornepayne, Algoma
- Howick, Huron
- Huron, County of
- Huron-Kinloss, Bruce
- Kawartha Lakes, City of
- Killarney, Sudbury District
- Kincardine, Bruce
- Lakeshore, Essex
- Lambton, County of
- LaSalle, Essex
- Laurentian Hills, Renfrew County
- Leeds and the Thousand Island, Leeds and Grenville
- Lennox & Addington, County of
- Mapleton, Wellington
- Magnetawan, Parry Sound District
- Marathon, Thunder Bay District
- McDougall, Parry Sound
- McNabb Braeside, Renfrew County
- Meaford
- Newbury, Middlesex
- Mono, Dufferin County
- Morris-Turnberry, Huron
- Nairn and Hyman, Sudbury District
- North Frontenac, Frontenac County
- North Glengarry, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
- North Grenville, Leeds and Grenville
- North Perth, Perth
- North Stormont, Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry
- Northern Bruce Peninsula, Bruce
- Ottawa, City of
- Peterborough, County of
- Plympton-Wyoming, Lambton
- Prescott-Russell, United Counties of
- Prince Edward, County of
- Rainy River, Rainy River District
- Ramara, Simcoe County
- South Bruce Peninsula, Bruce
- Southgate, Grey
- Tillsonburg, Oxford County
- Trent Lakes, Peterborough
- Tudor and Cashel, Hastings County
- Tweed, Hastings
- Val Rita-Harty, Cochrane District
- Warwick, Lambton
- Wainfleet, Niagara Region
- West Grey, Grey
- West Lincoln, Niagara
- Zorra, Oxford
23 Comments
Pat Cusack
For whatever reason this Govt. seems to think it was given a mandate to do whatever it wishes Have we somehow allowed ourselves to be governed by a new and different Queen? Bernie
Andre Lauzon
Every municipality that have endorsed the resolutions should enlist the “voice” of their MPP. Every MPP representing these municipalities should have the courage to stand up in Parliament and demand that the Gov’t listens to the CITIZENS of this Province. If they can’t do that they should be thrown out at the next elections,
Ron Hartlen
“…Our resolution points out that utility-scale wind power does not reduce greenhouse gas emissions or appreciably benefit the environment…”
Well done! It is so so great to see this SOLID DEFENDABLE FACT included here. If we all hammer away on this one, primarily to inform the Public / Electorate, maybe the insanity can be stopped.
notinduttondunwich
All we hope for here in Dutton Dunwich is that they revoke the license and have to start from the beginning again….
No. 1
Does the IWT project have community support….
No….
That was easy….. see ya later Inveridiots ….
notinduttondunwich
You’re right Ron…. so important to include that fact that grey energy act is ineffective…. expensive…. immoral. …… dangerous for bald eagles… turtles… birds…. bats….. frogs…. badgers…. bumblebees…people…. communities…. families…..
http://www.financialpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/lawrence-solomon-reversing-renewables
Read this article…. this was 2 years ago….. I’m sure Katty Wyndd read that article and thought…… idiots ….. what does Europe know about wind and solar..pffffttt… now look at the mess we are in…. stop this madness before it’s TO LATE!!!!!
Clearbluesky in D/D
Together we must convince the cities and the Gov. that Wind “Whyne” is not the answer as folks struggle to pay their Hydro bills, and businesses close .
We must have a united front across the province and develop a plan to demonstrate our displeasure. Thank you WCO for making that connection between all the communities, and working hard to share our ideas.
Sommer
I fully agree. The sooner we act in a province wide unified manner and collectively say “No!” the better.
Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh Councillors in Huron County will be asked again to to declare ACW an ‘unwilling host’ next Tuesday.
After all that residents who are being impacted have been through, we still have a Councillor who told a resident just recently that he does not believe that people are being negatively affected.
notinduttondunwich
Thanks clear blue sky in D/D yes you are correct…. with 75 municipalities on board with this we could shut downtown toronto tight fer a couple days!!!! 75 municipalities x 2 or more busses each x 50 people per bus!!!! That’s the math I like!!! Wonder if Katty can do the math on that!!!! Power to the municipalities that were stripped of their democratic right to oppose the sick dictator of the GREY ENERGY ACT!!!
Yes thank you so very much WCO!!!!
Bruce Miller
Ontario Power Corp takes its advice from political bull crap and entirely misses the fact that Wind Turbine efficiency INCREASES as air temperature DECREASES. Yes! like in Northern Ontario where winter winds last 8 months of the year and reach lows of – 40 C or more, adding up to 30 % efficiency. Wind Turbines, ideal for distant hamlets, and posed on rocky outcrops not prime farmland, not the finest tourist areas, will provide long distance transmission loss, transmission cost free, power directly to local grids. Long distance Transmission losses, transmission costs, are entirely eliminated for this electric boost and must also be entered into the calculus of making a Wind Turbine installation decision? Ontario Power Corp rather play politics, and places Turbines in “Photo Op” positions, destroying near north tourism areas, close to CN Tower, close to Darlington and other reactors, and on fertile farmlands near residential locations in Southern Ontario and within sight of reactors? I call anal engineering, and wish Wynne could see the damage this is doing to Wind Power potential here in Ontario . . .
Power generated in power stations pass through large and complex networks like transformers, overhead lines, cables and other equipment and reaches at the end users. It is fact that the unit of electric energy generated by Power Station does not match with the units distributed to the consumers. Some percentage of the units is lost in the distribution network.
http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/total-losses-in-power-distribution-and-transmission-lines-1
Ron Hartlen
Bruce Miller
It is important to be sure that technical information posted here is credible and defendable.
I would say it is absolutely impossible that difference in air temperature, through it’s effect on density and viscosity, could have such a dramatic effect on aerodynamic efficiency of a wind turbine.
Perhaps you were talking about output for a given wind speed (increased by greater density) or capacity factor (reflecting the availabilty of wind).
Please clarify for the readers here.
windbuddy
I just checked my Gridwatch app. This real time information provider tells me that we are generating 20,090 MW of electricity and that demand is 19,642 MW. That’s only 2% difference! Our nuclear reactors are producing 50% of the generation, and most of the operating reactors are at maximum production today. Wind is producing almost 15% of the generated power. We should we very glad it’s a windy day!! The tiny bit of extra power is being exported ( at what price, I don’t know, I don’t care). If we only have a 2% difference between generation and demand, I say that’s pretty good management of the resource. Maybe you anti-winders should remind yourselves of some of the old brown outs and black outs we used to have before demanding too much of a say in the production of electricity. Best leave production to the experts.
Wind Concerns Ontario
There is a lot more to this picture than you have included in your comment here. Because wind has first-to-the-grid rights, nuclear, hydro and gas will all be held back at a cost to you. If you knew the true cost (check articles here written by Parker Gallant) you would not be “very glad it’s a windy day”—it’s costing you. Money going to huge multi-national corporations interested in profits, not the environment.
notinduttondunwich
Hey windbuddy you sound like you got loads of cash to play with…… you should see some of the small business’ hydro bills…. they’re only going up up up!!!! Next time you buy a tub of ice cream on a hot day like today and it’s $56. For 2L. You should put that into your little grid watch app and see what it says!!!! Can’t afford the ice cream there bud…. good thing it’s windy out… go sit in the shade!!!
windbuddy
WCO. Umm isn’t Bruce Nuclear partially owned by a huge multi-national corporation interested in profits??? The average bid price for wind under the recent LRP was around 8.5 cents. If you factor in the legacy fund costs on our electricity bill, risk of a reactor malfunction, and the yet to be determined cost of disposal of nuclear waste, I am thinking that the cost of wind looks pretty darned friendly right now. Better check your facts on the first-to-the grid comment. You and Gallant may be wrong again.
Ron Hartlen
Forget the bid price. Just a number on a piece of paper.
There are top ups for community support etc.
What counts is what they are going to actually be paid for it.
Wind Concerns Ontario
It is fact that wind is first to the grid.
windbuddy
Not so Ron. Read the LRP rules. The bid price is what the IESO pays to the developer. “Top ups” as you call them come out of the developer’s profits…..not ours.
ScepticalGord
Hey windbuddy, is that you, Spencerforhire???
clearblueskyin D/D
You are welcome to them Windbuddy. Regardless of your financial summary, I will continue to fight to keep the legacy of these monsters from my community. There are just TOO many negative issues. I will continue the NIMBY approach, so our community remains safe. I have followed Parker Gallant for years and trust his opinion.
windbuddy
clearbluesky, I appreciate the fact that you admit your largest problem with wind is that you just don’t want it in your back yard. Your comment about TOO many negatives issues mainly originates from the fact that you anti-winders merely imagine all sorts of bad things about wind to try to support your position. You hide behind the statement that you are protecting your community, when in fact your harassment of projects and people is just to satisfy your self-serving interests. YOU cause division in communities with your foolish actions and unfounded propaganda. YOU encourage people like NUTinduttondunwich to make threats (pitchforks, blood in the streets, going to jail for the cause,blocking downtown Toronto) . Renewable energy is here to stay. You have the ability to use some common sense in your approach to it’s place in the world and the community. Start there please.
ScepticalGord
There’s a difference between useful, good green energy that’s worth pursuing, and really bad “green” energy that’s problematic for so many reasons.
Wind turbines fall firmly into the latter category.
These reasons have been articulated ad nauseam on this and other similar websites. I won’t be repeating them now.
You have the ability to use some common sense in your approach to it’s place in the world and the community. Start there please.
notinduttondunwich
It seems the only reason someone would be supportive of this green energy act is if they’re are receiving subsidies from the liberal government aka leaseholders payments… no matter how many times you show those pro IWT folks they just turn there back on you… us… the community…. it’s absolutely madness that when we’re all done with this we will be one of the worst polluters of the G7 countries… 10 x plus worst polluters…. yet as long as I’m getting my little hydro windwill cheque everyone else can %÷×€ off!!!!!! Well there will be no sympathy when Ole Katty Wynnd is empeached and ALL contracts with the government are deemed null and void!!! If I see you holding your head down all pouty cause yer getting sued and you’re gonna loose some or all yer land all yer gonna get from the community is a good solid boot in the ass!!!!
notinduttondunwich
http://www.financialpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/lawrence-solomon-reversing-renewables
Read it and be worried leaseholders….. this government will cut the lifeline on all you leaseholders and not even blink an eye… not one of us will be throwing you a life vest. … hope you can survive the onslaught of lawsuits from foreign investors…. I’m sure they will build nice little cabins on your land after they settle on a 100 acre parcel of YOUR land!!!!
The other 100 acres of your land will be going to your lawyers to try and stop the takeover of your first 100 acres of land….
Good luck folks….