The internet has been crucial, in educating people about the subterfuge that has been going on between the UN, Faux-green environmentalists, and many governments. Agenda 21 would destroy life as we know it, and reduce everyone to government controlled sardines, living in government run apartment style housing. This is not what our forefathers fought for. We will not give up our democratic rights.
http://quixoteslaststand.com/2013/12/10/ontario-tilts-against-wind-turbines-as-costs-spiral/
The spiraling costs associated with this fiasco, has financially crippled our once-strong province. Manufacturing companies are beating a path, to the “exit”. No one can afford to live comfortably, unless they have a very good income. The middle class is being squeezed out. Soon, there will be only rich, or poor. What more will it take, to make people realize, that the Liberals, with the blessing of the NDP, will be the death of this province. Like it or not, it is time for damage control, and the Conservatives are the only ones who will do it.
I find it shocking, and offensive, that the United Way, will gladly reap the potential financial benefits, of the legal abuse, that Nextera intends to heap upon Esther Wrightman. Everyone should write to the United Way, and let them know how you feel. If you belong to twitter, facebook, or any of the social media sights, broadcast this nasty behaviour, far and wide! Do NOT give one penny, to these people!
http://rogerhelmermep.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/hiding-the-decline/#comment-24107
There is nothing about wind turbines, on or off-shore, that makes any sense at all. They are simply not feasible, in any way, shape or form. I don’t care how many rich investors lose their shirts, as long as it is not dumped on the innocent ratepayers. Screw the windweasel investors! Shut this windscam down!!!
http://toryaardvark.com/2013/12/09/uk-guardian-finally-admits-the-truth-about-wind-farms/#more-23947
WINDSONG: Good riddance, to the wind weasels! We will not be sad, to see you go, your trail of devastation and misery, has gone on too long, and must come to an end! This Windsong stays on my mind!
Dec 6, 2013 Bishop Hill
Via Angela Kelly comes this message from acoustician Mike Stigwood, who sets out the state of play on excess AM noise from windfarms. It looks like surrender from the developers.
Recent research presented at three planning inquiries that were conducted in September, October and November (Starbold, Bryn Lleweln and Shipdham – decisions awaited) have hopefully exposed the misconceived arguments made by the industry’s acousticians, which have successfully avoided controls over wind farm noise impact for many years.
After more than 4 years of smoke screens, obfuscation and erroneous objections raising unrealistic concerns and placing barriers in the way of necessary controls over the wind farm noise called “Excess Amplitude Modulation”, industry acousticians have finally admitted a planning condition is “necessary” and “reasonable”. Excess AM is now shown to be neither rare nor only causing minor effects as claimed over the last few years, arguments that have successfully blocked planning controls leaving many communities exposed to serious noise impact. Research by ourselves and the Japanese have exposed this as a common and serious problem. Read rest of article here.
And a link to a company that is studying wind turbine noise:
December 6, 2013 – The Windsor Star
Based on what the Liberals have done to hydro bills over the past decade, there’s good reason to worry about what they are now proposing as part of an “updated long-term energy plan.”
In fact, the update comes after hydro costs have increased nearly 50 per cent under the Liberal government’s watch. The reasons are myriad: The Green Energy Act — the centrepiece of the old long-term energy plan — has proven to be overly expensive and controversial. Each year about $1 billion is spent to pay for the stranded debt that was left over after the breakup and restructuring of Ontario Hydro. According to the auditor general, the province sells electricity exports for less than they’re worth. Between 2005 and 2011 the loss was $1.8 billion.
And then there’s the more than $1 billion the government needlessly spent to move two gas plants for no other reason that to save Liberal seats in the last election.
At best, the Liberals’ energy policy is a mess. It has failed to deliver affordable hydro rates that are fair to families and an incentive for businesses investment.
Thanks to the new long-term energy plan, it’s only going to get worse. Ontarians can count on their electricity rates going up 33 per cent over the next three years. And within five years, the average monthly bill of $125 will rise to $178 — a 42 per cent increase.
However, this is all good news, according to Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli. That’s because after the initial hikes, Ontarians will actually be paying $100 a year less than they would have under the old long-term strategy. That’s because the government decided to scrap plans to build two new nuclear reactors, renegotiated the Green Energy deal with Samsung and cut payments to small solar producers and wind farms.
“We are saving ratepayers money,” is how the energy minister characterized the coming hit to electricity bills. Just forget about the inflationary increases that are coming.
As far as Chiarelli is concerned the high rates are “just a fact of life.”
Another fact of life is that the Liberals have mishandled the energy file and they have no intention of addressing high rates, or even stabilizing them.
But since there’s an election coming up, possibly this spring, the Liberals are holding out hope to hard-pressed energy users that they’ll be offering some help “to better control their consumption.”
The government says the program will provide “on-bill financing for energy efficiency retrofits” starting in 2015, which would provide loans for home renovations that would be paid back through electricity bills.
“We haven’t put the details together,” admitted Chiarelli. “The cost of financing over time will be paid for by savings.” And considering the rate hikes ahead, that could be a very long time.
For now, the Liberals’ energy strategy seems to be focused on creating the impression that everything is under control as the province heads toward an election. But the bottom line is that Ontario’s hydro rates are among the highest in North America, and there’s no end in sight to the increases.
The coming election will provide Ontarians with the opportunity to send a simple message to all the parties — it’s time for an affordable energy plan.
See original article here: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/12/06/the-stars-view-new-plan-same-old-hydro-hikes/
Written by Donna Lueke – Beacon News, Dec. 3 2013
Two environmental issues are at a crossroads here on the shores of Lake Erie. Two of our most prominent natural resources seem to be on a collision course.
Birds and birders flock to the shores of Lake Erie. There is more of a concentration of bald eagle nests here than anywhere in the United States except Alaska. The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways converge near here. Each spring this area is the home of the largest birding event in the country, The Biggest Week in American Birding, which last year helped attract more than 70,000 birders from all over the world. Economic impact studies conducted by Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) and Bowling Green State University show that visiting birders spend more than 30 million dollars in the local area each spring. The internationally renowned Kaufman Birding Guides and the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) have made Ottawa County their home.
Energy costs are high in Ottawa County. Here where the water meets the shore, the winds are frequent and strong. Wind turbines are being constructed at schools and private industries all over the area. As a green, clean, renewable alternative to the fossil-fuel-fired plants, wind power is becoming a popular choice. Yet, even with government subsidies, wind power is still an expensive alternative form of energy. The other significant negative with wind power is that birds, especially songbirds, eagles and other raptors, can be killed by wind turbines.
LUKE EDWARDS/STAFF PHOTO
WAINFLEET – Even as the foundations are being poured, opponents to wind turbine projects in Wainfleet are continuing to fight.
Last week the Wainfleet Ratepayers Association held an information session to raise awareness about the projects. The Wainfleet Wind Energy project has been given the green light and crews are beginning to prepare the sites where five turbines will be put up, while a Niagara Region Wind Corporation proposal would see a total of 77 built in West Lincoln, Haldimand and Wainfleet combined.
Thursday’s meeting was about raising awareness about the projects, and the concerns many have over property values, health and safety.
“It’s a last ditch effort for the Ratepayers (Association) to try to get people more involved,” said association member and Wainfleet Alderman Betty Konc.
Members of local wind action groups gave presentations at the event, including the Smithville Turbine Opposition Party, Safe Wind Energy for All Residents, and Mothers Against Wind Turbines. Selkirk resident Marnie Knight also spoke about her experiences in that community.
“Wind energy affects all Ontarians,” said Dave Bylsma, chair for the legal subcommittee for the West Lincoln Wind Action Group. “If we do nothing, then it’s inevitable.”
Bylsma said everyone in the province will feel the effects of turbines, whether it’s by being in direct contact with them or by increasing hydro bills.
The meeting came on the heels of first Environmental Review Tribunal hearing or the recently approved Wainfleet project. Konc said the hearing was a “bit of a disappointment,” as the scope of the hearing was restricted.
Skydive Burnaby, which operates near where two of the turbines will be built, is appealing the approval. At the hearing, Konc said lawyers agreed to restrict the scope to deal exclusively with the safety aspect for those using Skydive Burnaby.
“It was surprising for me, although it shouldn’t have been,” Konc said.
The tribunal was originally supposed to hear about health issues for humans living near turbines, but because there are already tribunals dealing with those issues Konc said the Wainfleet review will put that discussion on hold, pending the results of the other tribunals.
The appeal is supposed to be heard in its entirety in January.
Dear Andrea Horwath and Peter Tabuns;
Thanks you for your consideration and approach to finding out about concerns from Ontarians with regards how rising electricity rates are affecting families. This subject is one that is dear to my heart as I have spend the last 12 months researching the topic extensively. Almost 2 weeks ago, I also found out that the factory I work at which employed 60 people in Caledonia (Just outside of your consituency), will be “Idling” in the first quarter of 2014….so that the corporation can put the jobs back into the US. Energy costs for Large Consumers – aka manufacturing – has risen in Ontario on average 30% since 2008. (Fraser Institue Report Here) My colleagues and I will now be looking for work in an economy where manufacturing has been leaving in astronomical numbers, along with the middle class. The Fraser institute report shows how in New York state, their large consumer electricity rates have actually dropped over 20% from 2008 rates…That is a 50% difference for companies who are manufacturing goods from Ontario to NY State. We sell our excess electricity at a loss, and have paid Quebec and New York state at times to even take our electricity! We paid them!!!
Never before have I been so interested in Ontario’s energy policies, especially after reviewing the Auditor Generals report from 2011. I am extremely worried about Ontario’s current path related to energy policies as I know that my children and their children will be suffering the consequences of the current LIberal governments mismanagement. As a child, the Hydro One debt was tacked onto my parents electricity bills, and to this day my generation of ratepayers continue to pay for a debt that the Liberals contnue to extend final payment to, almost unquestioned. The Green Energy Act and FIT contracts are blatantely killing the economy. The numbers are there for all to see, if anyone would actually take a look at the output capability reports from IESO which on any given day would show you that Wind power is supplying less than 1% of our daily demand….after spending billions on subsidies and infrastructure.
On Page 89 of the Auditor Generals report, it states that The Ministry of Energy at the time (George Smitherman) claimed that the Green Energy Act would lead to “modest incremental increases in electricity bills of about 1% annually” yet in November 2010 the Ministry forecast concluded that a typical residential electricity bill would rise about 7.9% annually over the next 5 years, with 56% of the increase due to investments in renewable energy.” It also states that “wind and solar renewable power will add significant additional costs to ratepayers’ electricity bills.” Electricity is a necessity in Ontario, how many households can afford this?
We are being asked to pay for a second energy system – wind – while we underutilize hydro and gas. According to IESO the Energy Output by Fuel Type for 2012 has nuclear at 56.4%, hydro at 22.3%, gas at 14.6% coal at 2.8% and wind at 3%.
On Page 90 it shows the Minister of Energy replaced the RESOP (Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program ) with the FIT (Feed in Tariff) program providing renewable energy generators with significantly more attractive contract prices adding $4.4 billion in costs over the 20 years.” If the government’s goal of 10,700 MW of renewable energy by 2018 (p. 89) is realized the FIT subsidy will be closer to $2.6 billion per year or $52 billion in costs over the 20 years just for the FIT subsidy.
Mega Watt
X
Operating efficiency
X
Hours per year
X
Cost
10,700 MW X .28 efficiency X 8760 hours per year X $103.50 = $2,624,496,000 FIT subsidy per year!
According to page 111 of the Auditor General’s Report the operating efficiency of industrial wind turbines is 28%. The cost per MW is based on the FIT guaranteed price of $0.135 per kw minus hourly Ontario Energy price estimated at $0.0315 per kw = $0.1035 per kw making it $103.50 per MW. So 10,700 MW X .28 efficiency X 8760 hours per year X $103.50 = $2,624,496,000 FIT subsidy per year! )
Just in Fit Subsidies, we are being asked to pay over $2.6 BILLION per year for only 3% of Ontario’s energy output. This is while we spill, “clean hydro energy” over Niagara Falls, in order to take WIND that we do not need.
Those on fixed pension incomes, contract workers, and those earning minimum wage will be most affected by these energy policies. In the United Kingdom, fuel poverty, which now affects 5.5 million households, has become a household term, largely because of electricity policies similar to those that are being pursued in Ontario. In Germany, every year over 600,000 Households are disconnected annually for not being able to pay their electricity bills. Ontario is now being boasted about Internationally as having an energy policy “Worse than California”.
1) Why are we even investing in any additoinal energy sources, a 2nd system, when we have “enough energy” in Ontairo as per the Ministry of Energy office. $2.6BILLION/YEAR for subsidies on Energy we don’t need!!!!!!!!
2) Why does the government ignore the over 75 Municipalities in Ontario who have asked to “Not be a Willing Host” to wind turibnes? Why doesn’t your party support these Ontarians in ever growing numbers?
3) Why is it ok for the Liberals to let manufacturing jobs in Ontario leave?
4) When will my insurance rates go down? I have actually got notices about rising rates, not decreasing….
I hope that your party stops propping up the LIberals and takes a stand for Ontarians for once….if you don’t, our children and their children will be paying down the debt of this eras failed energy policies. I would like a response and look forward to it.
Respectfully Submitted
Haldimand Resident
Mothers Against Wind Turbines Inc. 