In 2003 Nottawasaga CEDC in partnership with the South Simcoe municipalities presented the final community strategic planning document to the participating municipalities. Energy costs were identified as an issue and constraint to growth within South Simcoe. Subsequently, there has been a marked increase in interest in wind technology and wind farm establishment in South Simcoe
In 2002 the Conservative government froze the price of hydro at 4.3 cents/kW to support business and residents in the province. Subsequent to a 2003 fall election, the Liberal government assessed the cost of frozen hydro rates to the government and ultimately to the taxpayers of the province and elected to float the hydro rates and endeavour to promote conservation and alternative energy as a means of reducing business and household energy costs.
In August 2003 a blackout stemming from a hydro facility in the USA effectively eliminated hydro service to a large portion of Ontario for a period of 2-5 days depending on the service area and level of work required to restore service. The position statements issued from the province throughout and after the blackout indicated that energy supply was going to be an ongoing issue for the province in meeting the demand of both businesses and residents. Issues with the nuclear power plants, grid infrastructure and overall supply market issues were going to make meeting the energy needs of the province an ongoing challenge.
Agriculture is the second largest sector within South Simcoe. Farmers and Agri-businesses are not only large volume consumers of energy, but also offer tremendous opportunity to further establish wind generators on the large tracts of land under cultivation. In recognition of this fact, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food has asked Parliamentary Assistant, Carol Mitchell, to engage in a fact-finding mission to determine “the feasibility of putting alternative energy to work on the farm.”1
The federal government has established a target for renewable energy. It has committed to acquiring 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by next year.2 Leading by example, the federal government, with this commitment, is fostering public awareness and support for incorporating alternative energy into the daily lives of Canadians. Canada’s signing of the Kyoto Protocol indicates a long-term commitment to sourcing and utilizing “greener” forms of energy in order to meet the challenge of achieving the targeted emission reduction goals set out in the terms of Kyoto.
1 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food - Press Release, April 27, 2004 “Provincial and Agri-Food Sector to Work on Alternative Energy Generation”
2 Toronto Star (newspaper) July 26, 2004 edition. @ Biz Section, “Time to Give Windmills a Spin”
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