Wind Concerns Ontario
has an answer for the Government of Ontario, as it looks to regain
financial good health: cancel the province’s feed-in tariff (FIT)
subsidy program for industrial-scale wind power.
The coalition of
citizens’ groups and individuals concerned about the effects of
industrial wind power generation on people and communities, released a
report today on the FIT program, called Unintended Consequences.
“We don’t need wind
power in Ontario,” says president Jane Wilson. “It’s expensive, it’s
unreliable, and it’s out of phase with demand. This past weekend,” she
explains, “electricity prices hit a record low and Ontario had to shut
down power generation. Meanwhile, Ontario is pushing industrial-scale
wind power which is industrializing our rural communities, and elevating
electricity costs which in turn harms people and business. We say,
cancel the FIT program and do it now.”
The report frequently
refers to the Auditor General’s report from 2011 which notes that
Ontario failed to conduct a business case study for its FIT program, or a
cost-benefit analysis of the impact of the subsidy.
“Wind
power has not fulfilled one single promise made by this government,”
Wilson says. “It has a high environmental impact for very low return,
the jobs are temporary, and the developments are not welcome in most
communities. Other countries in the world with subsidy programs for wind
power are giving them up—wind power at that scale just doesn’t make
sense.”
CONTACT:
Jane Wilson, President
Download the Report here
Recommendations from Unintended Consequences:
- Halt the FIT program now
- Stop all industrial wind projects until an independent clinical health study is done
- Compensate non-participating property owners whose properties have lost value, near wind developments
- Return local land use planning powers for renewable energy projects to Ontario municipalities
QUOTES:
“Wind power doesn’t do a
single thing it’s supposed to: it doesn’t result in the closure of
fossil-fuel power plants and in fact requires fossil-fuel back-up, it is
extraordinarily expensive and doesn’t compare well to other initiatives
such as conservation, and last, the resulting high electricity prices
are costing our economy further and resulting in job loss.”
“The property value
loss experienced by property owners near industrial wind turbine
projects throughout Ontario is expropriation without compensation.”
“Ignoring the potential
for health effects from industrial wind power generation
projects…represents a serious challenge to the government. The
government must fully and accurately describe health issues related to
renewable energy projects in Ontario.”
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