Comment
Now more than ever
We were blessed this past weekend with the most glorious of days in the County. The colours vibrant, temperatures moderate and folks moving around outside taking it all in or finishing the late season chores before the cold weather sets in.
It was a weekend in which anyone fortunate enough to be visiting could not help but be transformed by natural beauty that runs through the veins of the County and bursts forth into gloriously opulent displays on weekends such as these. We have much to be thankful for.
And much to defend.
Because the morning we wake up and Prince Edward County looks like Wolfe Island— massive industrial wind turbines on every horizon, looming over every yard, pasture and cemetery—paradise will be lost. Forever.
Some readers are no doubt growing weary of this newspaper’s unrelenting rebuke of wind energy and other intermittent forms of electricity generation. Some because they’ve adopted the religion that has grown out of concerns about global warming and peak oil, encompassing a belief that no expense is too great—no paradise is too precious that it can’t be mowed flat in this paradoxical race to save the planet.
Others simply want relief from the guilt David Suzuki, Al Gore and the like have successfully placed on our shoulders this past decade and a half. If a few wind turbines spinning over a pristine meadow will fix the weather and ease my anxiety about the Escalade in my driveway, it seems a reasonable tradeoff for many urban folks. It isn’t, but few of us probe our irritations too deeply. We just put cream on it and move on.
Others simply want to change the channel— talk about other issues and other stories in the County. Play the fiddle while Rome burns. But we, at the Times, feel an overwhelming obligation not to look away at the greatest threat to the beauty, economy and way of life Prince Edward County has likely ever encountered. The morning after will be too late. What we know as the County will be gone in a heartbeat. Weekends like these remind us of what we have to protect— why the fight is so important.
In this struggle against the industrialization of Prince Edward County the next year and a bit is likely to be the most dangerous—the most volatile. It will require the most vigilance.
I expect Gilead and other wind energy developers across the province to gather their folks together in the next week or so with the following message: get your projects through the regulatory process in the next year or they are dead.
For in about a year’s time the Ontario Liberals will likely begin thinking seriously about their future. Specifically they will begin pondering openly who will lead them in the next election. Many will conclude that Dalton McGuinty’s stay has expired and begin actively agitating for renewal at the top.
A quick scan of the electoral map after Thursday’s vote will show leadership hopefuls that if the Liberals have any hope of winning seats outside urban areas, they will have to rework the Green Energy Act, by restoring public safeguards to prevent reckless and damaging energy development, and give municipalities back the authority to decide where and how many wind and solar projects will be installed in their communities.
They will need to plot out a more adult energy policy, one that encapsulates more than the small fraction generated by electricity. A policy informed by facts rather than wishful thinking and slogans.
The symbolism, imagery and deception of the green facade will surely be replaced by the hard work of research, incremental improvement and conservation. It was always happening—just below the shrill cries for urgent action.
The writing is now on the wall for wind developers— the gravy train is about to grind to a halt. You can bet they will be pushing as hard as they can over the next few months to see projects such as Ostrander Point (nine turbines), White Pines (36 turbines in phase one) and others across the County and indeed, the province, through the environmental review and appeals process.
Now more than ever ordinary folks will need to resist this offensive as best they can. This means reading about the issues, writing letters to the editor and contributing to funds to mount legal, procedural and health-related appeals against these projects.
A simple walk outside this past weekend tells us there is something very precious about this place that deserves our protection and our attention . We must not look away—or it will be gone.
rick@wellingtontimes.ca
Here is where the war on terror..electricity false short.
If Canada went back to the horse and buggy , and we all walked everywhere. Used oil lamps.
That is it right ?
The entire environment in the world as per the IPCC is saved?
Nothing else factors in.
IWTs are the most damaging environmentally from beginning to end. Require large tracks of land everywhere you look to find wind.
And are still at best 27% reliable to stated capacity .
It leaves areas in an appalling Industrial Wasteland.
While if solar were adopted by home owners , businesses and barn rooftops of
farms , which were subsidized through the province by grants , zero interest loans and subsidies…we may have something here.
Neither power generation can stand alone and require conventional partnered power.
It can however reduce demand to a point.
The unfortunate situation in Ontario is that Public Relations has had 10 years to work on people through all media in the war on terror ..electricity.
No country in the world has lowered any emissions levels of any merit adopting IWT power.
Not one.
It has certainly spawned a new economy , called a Vampire economy.
In order for this economy to survive it sucks the financial health out of other economies to exist.
Despite the spin , the misinformation out there on a daily basis , through suspect experts on radio talk shows or TV , despite all the redirect.
Here are some facts:
Homeowners use 30% of power demand. Industry uses 70%.
There has been a significant lowering of electricity use for several reasons.
The foremost is the downturn in the economy …second is conservation.
The entire PR focus is to shift away from any questions regarding the direction.
The Liberals were elected to STOP the privatization of Ontario Hydro.when Harris sold it.
In the same year the Liberals were elected they began following the Harris direction to privatize our electricity production…completely backtracking what they were elected to do.
You are forced to buy IWTs power and Solar Power first and foremost , wind at 3 times and solar up to 15 times concventional rates before you are buying other power from conventional sources..
Ontario is a monopoly for electricity producers , you are a captured market.
And now as privatization by for profit electricity producers are flooding into Ontario because of the enormous rates we are all forced to pay power costs are skyrocketing.
False statements include our power grid needing to be rebuilt for any other reason than to accomodate intermittant power.sold to us by IWT and Solar companies Our grid has always been in good repair.
Our conventional power generation is nearing it’s lifespan , false once again..our facilities are good for another 25 years. Hardly an impending crisis.
Another false claim is environmental.
No country in the world operates IWTs for example without partnered conventional power. In Demark and Germany they use coal.
So when one talks about wind or solar large scale power , you MUST include conventional power.
Another false impression is , the actual war on terror , electricity. The PR is for us to accept and only look at electricity as the one and only reason things happen i the world. Electricity is the only reason and cause for any ills that happen. Every hurricane , every earthquake ..everything.
It’s about PRing Ontarians to not notice we are being led to a for profit power generation system that is causing electricity prices to soar.
When in fact the promise of privatization was lower prices through competition.
No one was making money selling you power , now they are.
We were betrayed.
When it comes to energy in Ontario, it’s time for a truly open and transparent discussion. To this point, unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. The lack of information/support/clarity in this area almost cost the Liberals provincial power (ironically, not that kind of power). Many are reporting that the reduction in Liberal MPP’s is directly related to the issue of energy. I tend to support the arguement, especially when one considers that most of rural Ontario is now blue. Rural Ontario is and has been the battle ground when it comes to the wind energy debate. Communities have literally been split apart due to those who support versus those who don’t. Worse yet, the “smart” people have piped in on both sides which only further complicates the debate. Folks, this is EXACTLY what “The Powers That Be” want. See, when we’re all arguing the pro’s and con’s, we’re not focused on the real issue. I swear to God the “smart” people build their case for or against, in part, to show everybody just how smart they are. PEC seems to have a hand full of “smart” people. So, with all due respect, I have some questions for the “smart” people to consider…
1) how are US energy demands tied to this debate?
2) what impact does the former Security and Prosperity Partnership (now renamed and repackaged – still the same ole SPP) have on the debate?
3) what influence has our own federal gov’t had on this debate? Perhaps we should pull Daryl Kramp in to the energy debate.
4) do federal energy commitments i.e. those the Canadian gov’t has made with our friends to the south trump provincial energy deals… or heavily influence them? I think one would have to be way out in left field not to think one does not influence the other.
5) what is Canada’s energy policy? Do we have one? Does it trump provincial jurisdictional boundaries? If it’s considered to be an issue of national security, what does that do to the debate? Remember, the empire is hungry for energy.
6) how does the the controversial Keystone XL pipeline and the selling of water generated electricity from Quebec and Newfoundland tie in with the debate?
Some thoughts to ponder. Now, I am hoping the “smart” people can help me with the above questions. At minimum, I think someone from PEC needs to be asking Mr. Kramp some of these questions.
FYI – I am 100 percent in favor of renewable energy. However, I believe residential energy requirements should be powered by “off-grid” sources…. like wind and solar. Big business should be powered by “on-grid” sources. It’s seems bizarre to me that the residents of PEC could be sitting in the dark as our turbines spin, supplying energy to keep the lights on for everyone else. Call it selfish! To me, energy sustainability is about keeping the energy as close to where it will be consumed.
Rick , I wish this was true. But , the money to be made in the Energy Industry is enormous. And it is a huge very wealthy industry.
Wealthy enough to buy political parties and governments and fund an entire PR industry to boot.
That should say it all.
In January Cap and Trade will be implemented thanks to Mr.McGuinty and the NDP. And prices and taxes with begin to soar. And new Taxes will be implemented.
If you want to know where this is coming from and how and why , the simple bottom lines are.
Carbon Pricing or Cap and Trade is based on the the transferring of wealth from you to emerging nations to build infrastructure in order to build their economies. And of course to clean up the mess corporations and short sighted governments have caused in these areas by allowing unchecked industrialization.
It is of course far more complicated ,such as making air a tradable commodity which Enron wanted to see. Al Gore prior to his move was involved in the Chicago Carbon Exchange .Now defunct and the founder Richard Sandor has set up shop in the Montreal Climate Exchange. He is called the father of carbon pricing.
But in simplified terms it is corporate welfare. And corporations are now realizing that this transferring of responsibility onto the taxpayer for years of destruction , is good for their bottom line so more and more are coming on line in support.
It has been accomplished by incredible PR work through the UN , which is married to WWF and Greenpeace..And the World Bank.
There has been an entire industry born on not only “grooming” you by PR firms which masquerade as ECO groups , but Enviromental Products and Energy.
If your children are taking Environmental science , or Law …they have a huge employment pool waiting for them.
If you are the average Person , you will see your quality of life , disposable income and standard of living lowered.
Due to the taxes , massive subsidies and costs these industries put on the average taxpayer.
Solar pay 15 times conventional power on rooftops…………with those prices they aren’t going away soon.
And IWT developers make 3 times conventional rates,. One Million Dollar Turbine brings in 8.7 Million a year.
They are not going away real soon either.
So , you are correct , in the next year , we are going to see the attempt of more IWT developments shoved down our throats without a say . Now developers may wise up and realize it is cheaper working with us.?
Or ,who knows perhaps the tactics of the natives may be the only way to get the Liberals to pay attention.? Some of the well known Liberal and NDP players may very well end up either working for the UN or of course in the energy industry in some form.
And since many have a least 2 terms, they won’t be hurting pension wise either.
So , there is no downside scenario for the Liberals..
However it plays out…it is’t going away easily when you consider the enormous profits.
In spite of periodic differences Rick, I know that when I return to the editorial pages of the Wellington Times, I am sure to find an eloquent and heartfelt comment – one which lifts my spirits and provides me the inspiration to see beyond my sometimes limited views, and instead to help foster a solution.