If the crush of media around George Smiterton at Monday’s Canadian Wind Energy Association meeting in Toronto is any indication, Ontario’s Green Energy Act has important implications far beyond the province.
It is the first time that a European approach to renewable energy subsidies — called a “feed-in-tariff” — has been tried in North America.
And its only the second time that such massive investments have been made despite reluctant a national government (California during the Bush years being the first example.)
Media Coverage
The Agenda did a terrific job of opening up some of the questions about the Green Energy Act. The Sept. 15th show is a must-watch for anyone interested.
The Toronto Star story from Sept. 21 focused on announcements about investments in infrastructure . Nuclear energy investments, meanwhile, are up in the air, with cost estimates coming in far too high, the Star quoted energy officials as saying.
The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal, meanwhile, said the plan got mixed reviews from the critics.
With at least four coal fired power plants being shut down in Ontario in the next few years, one question is whether the national government’s commitment to nuclear energy could trump Ontario’s commitment to conservation and renewables.