WIND FARM STOPPAGE WELCOME NEWS: FEDELI
March 17, 2015NORTH BAY – The decision to halt development of an industrial wind farm proposed for
Mattawan Township is a victory for all residents of Nipissing and hydro ratepayers all
across Ontario, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli proclaimed today.
The proponent has announced that their Mattawan wind project will not go ahead.
“The Auditor General has clearly told us the subsidies paid to wind power developers in
Ontario have literally cost us billions of dollars without actually increasing green energy,”
Fedeli said.
Wind power is simply unreliable, makes power mostly at night when we don’t need it,
creating a surplus Ontario then has to get rid of by paying Quebec and the United
States to take it, Fedeli added. The Auditor General says the total cost of producing
that exported power was about $2.6 billion more than the revenue Ontario received
from exporting that power between 2006 and 2013.
Fedeli further noted the difference between the market price for power and the price paid
to wind developers goes into the global adjustment, which the Auditor estimates has cost
about $50 billion cumulative over the past decade.
“Is it any wonder Ontario now has the highest industrial rates in North America, and
residential hydro bills are forecast to increase 42% by 2018 after peak hydro rates have
already more than tripled since 2003?” asked Fedeli.
Many still have concerns about the project proposed for Merrick Township, Fedeli noted.
“The real solution is for the government to reverse course on proposed wind projects,
cancel feed-in tariff (FIT) subsidies, implement an immediate wind power, and give
municipalities veto authority over wind projects in their communities,” Fedeli concluded.
For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact:
Clint Thomas
Executive Assistant
(705) 474-8340 or (416) 710-1752