Green energy bill short on details
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
© AgMedia Inc.
by GEOFF DALE
Farm leaders and some rural politicians are greeting Energy Minister George Smitherman’s much-anticipated green bill with guarded optimism and a call for more details.
Calling Bill 150 “enabling legislation” that has some good news for the agricultural community, Bette Jean Crews, Ontario Federation of Agriculture president, says she wants more details, particularly information on farmland safeguards.
The bill was introduced at Queen’s Park for its first reading yesterday and its second today. It proposes major changes to the electricity system to allow producers of renewable energy such as wind and solar power access to the transmission grid.
While the bill refers to good prices for this kind of power, critics say it’s short on details - for example, how much money is involved and its impact on energy producers. A mandatory $300 energy audit for homeowners included in the bill is also generating concern.
In recent weeks, municipalities in the province have stalled at least two projects because of concerns about their impact on people, livestock, land use and the environment.
Tomorrow, in Oxford County where one power generation company has identified a potential site for wind development, county councilors will debate a proposed interim control bylaw to freeze wind energy development applications. They’re considering keeping the bylaw in place until the government releases information on health impacts such projects could have on both residents and livestock.
Paul Holbrough, county warden, says Oxford doesn’t oppose renewable energy projects. It is just a matter of getting clarification of health matters and the setbacks required for putting these systems in place.
They’ve contacted all relevant ministries, MPPs and officials, he says. “We want some answers to these questions before we let any projects go ahead. We haven’t gone over the bill completely yet but we hope some of these matters will be dealt with.”
Three weeks ago more than 100 farmers gathered just west of St. Eugene in an attempt to halt a proposed solar plant planned by Solaris Energy Partners on a nearby farm. The municipality of East Hawkesbury (part of the united Counties of Prescott and Russell) enacted an interim control bylaw, delaying the construction.
Prescott County Federation of Agriculture president Marcel Cadieux, who has yet to read the bill, says local members will review it. They’ll be looking for points addressing the construction of a solar facility on good agricultural land.
“It’s just criminal,” he says. “There are so many other stone-filled fields you can’t cultivate – use them. We are not against green but against using prime farm land.”
Crews agrees that class one farm land should not be covered by solar panels when the technology exists for installation on roofs or fences, adding these are the kind of safeguards the farming community is looking for in the legislation. Noting farmers are in favour of green energy – and some already produce renewable fuels - she says green energy represents another opportunity for them to contribute to the economy.
“This could result in a domino effect, with extra jobs down the road, its win-win for everyone,” she says. “But more research is needed on health issues, setbacks and other concerns.” BF