MPP: Stop the Otter Creek & North Kent wind projects

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The MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex wants two local wind projects halted.

Monte McNaughton wrote a letter to Glenn Thibeault, the Minister of Energy, calling for the stoppage of the Otter Creek Wind Farm, north of Wallaceburg, and the North Kent Wind project, which is set to be built between Wallaceburg and Chatham.

Monte McNaughton
Monte McNaughton

“I congratulate your ministry on finally seeing the light of day and suspending the second round of the Large Renewable Procurement process and the Energy-from-Waste Standard Program,” McNaughton said in the letter.

“Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition has been asking for such a step for six years; six years in which Ontario hydro rates have increased to the point where ordinary residents of this province are falling into ‘energy poverty.'”

McNaughton added: “The current government has created an energy policy that has driven electricity consumption down, not because of conservation, but because of fewer industrial customers. This has left the rate-paying residents of Ontario stuck with the bill.”

McNaughton pointed out a comment by Thibeault made this week, where he stated, ‘This decision will … save up to $3.8 billion in electricity system costs…’.

“I beg to differ with your definition of ‘save’,” McNaughton said.

“I offer that what might happen is that Ontario residents will be spared the additional cost of $3.8 billion. Thank you.”

McNaughton said the Ministry has the opportunity to save Ontario much more.

“I ask that your ministry act immediately to cease further progress on the first round of the Large Renewable Procurement in cases where construction has vet to begin,” he said.

“Specifically, I ask that further progress on Otter Creek Wind and North Kent Wind cease forthwith. If cancelling 1000 megawatts will ‘save’ $3.8 billion then, by extrapolation, further cancelling the combined nameplate capacity of Otter Creek and North Kent will ‘save’ approximately $570,000,000. Such an act would be a blessing to my many constituents who have the gravest concerns for the degradation of the environment which these wind turbine projects will cause, and a boon to the electricity rate-payers of Ontario.”

Earlier this week, provincial officials said Ontario will immediately suspend the second round of its Large Renewable Procurement (LRP II) process and the Energy-from-Waste Standard Offer Program, halting procurement of over 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar, wind, hydroelectric, bioenergy and energy from waste projects.

Provincial officials say this decision is expected to save up to $3.8 billion in electricity system costs relative to Ontario’s 2013 Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP) forecast. This would save the typical residential electricity consumer an average of approximately $2.45 per month on their electricity bill, relative to previous forecasts. No additional greenhouse gas emissions are being added to the electricity grid.

“Over the course of the last decade, Ontario has rebuilt our electricity system and secured a strong supply of clean power,” stated Glenn Thibeault, Minister of Energy, in a press release.

“Our decision to suspend these procurements is not one we take lightly. This decision will both maintain system reliability and save up to $3.8 billion in electricity system costs relative to the 2013 LTEP forecast. The typical residential electricity consumer would save an average of approximately $2.45 per month on their electricity bill, relative to previous forecasts. As we prepare for a renewed LTEP, we will continue to plan for our future and ensure Ontario benefits from clean, reliable and affordable power for decades to come.”

Provincial officials say responsible management of Ontario’s electricity system is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs.

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