The cost of wind ‘far exceeds’ societal and climate benefits, economist says

A consulting economist has written a damning report on the costs and benefits of Ontario’s wind power fleet. There are plenty of costs and very few benefits, says Edgardo Sepulveda in his report “Chasing the Wind”, published today by the MacDonald-Laurier Institute.

There have been many calls in Ontario for a thorough, independent cost-benefit analysis of wind power, by none other than two Auditors General—Jim McCarter and Bonnie Lysyk.

No analysis has been done, and cost-benefit analyses have never been required by the Ontario government prior to granting lucrative contracts to wind power proponents. Lucrative, and also demanding: Ontario subsidized wind power for years by offering many enticements, not least of which were “first to the grid” rights or “must take” requirements, which led to the displacement of cheaper, emissions-free power sources like hydro and nuclear.

The wind power lobby in Canada the Canadian Renewable Energy Association or CanREA) has been extremely influential.

“No other government in Canada has subsidized its electricity sector by this much for so long,” Sepulveda writes.

But! But! Wind is low-cost and it’s green, say its proponents.

Not so.

“…based on regression and cost-benefit analysis, we show that the costs of wind far exceed its societal and climate benefits for the 2020-2023 period, with average net cost of -$124/MWh due to financial (high prices) and structural factors,” Sepulveda writes.

“The climate benefit from any new zero-emission generation will be limited to the extent it can displace gas generation. Relative to other areas, Ontario’s wind capacity factors are modest and out of sync with gas generation, all resulting in a relatively low wind emissions offset,” the economist writes.

In other words, it doesn’t work.

In other words, wind has not fulfilled any of the promises made for it.

Jobs? No.

Prosperity for Ontario? No.

Lower electricity bills? Absolutely not: Ontario electricity bills rose 250 percent after the Green Energy Act.

You’ll be astounded at the price Sepulveda says is fair for wind power: just $46/MWh.

The report is timely, coming just before the next IESO Request for Proposals, which will welcome proposals from wind power developers.

This report gives citizens and municipalities a great deal to think about, and support for their position that wind power just isn’t worth the impact that it has on rural communities.

“People in Ontario have experienced the worst of wind power,” says Wind Concerns Ontario president Jane Wilson. “Our government has ignored the thousands of complaints about noise pollution and health effects—it’s really simple, if people can’t sleep, they can become ill—and other significant impacts such as damaged aquifers, and the proven risk to wildlife. But the cost to taxpayers has been enormous. We never heard the term ‘energy poverty’ before wind power came to Ontario.

“We don’t need more.”

Read the report here: Chasing the wind – The value of wind generation in a low-emission nuclear and hydro-dominant grid: the case of Ontario | Macdonald-Laurier Institute (macdonaldlaurier.ca)

contact@windconcernsontario.ca