Comments regarding next…

Comments regarding next Ontario Long Term Energy Plan – Dec 2-16

If Ontario has a “robust supply of energy that will last a decade” as Energy Minister Thibeault recently stated, we should not be contracting more wind energy now?  ie. The LRP-1 wind projects, as well as several other projects that are not yet under construction, from previous contracting arrangements – Amherst Island, White Pines, and Fairview Wind. Also, the recent FIT 5.0 bids. Cancel them all! We do not need the energy, most of the communities do not want them, they will continue to produce energy that is out of phase with demand, and that we will need to sell at a loss.  And most of all, they will add tremendously to our electricity bills in the future. And cancel LRP-2, don’t just “suspend” it.

The Ministry needs to do a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis of the energy mix that is planned for the next LTEP. Benefits and costs to the communities where the energy is produced needs to be clearly factored in – if it’s wind energy, the costs in terms of health issues for 16% of the population, cost of property devaluation and tax base deterioration as a result, cost to our natural environment, especially birds and bats, lost tourism, and somehow you need to factor in the emotional costs to communities that are driven apart by the controversial installation of wind turbines in our quiet rural setting.

Decrease the time-of-use off peak rate, if you really want people to conserve energy. There is no incentive for people, if you just increase the on-peak and off-peak rates equally.

If Wind Energy is included in the LTEP, Municipal agreement MUST BE MANDATORY. And Indigenous support for the program MUST BE LOCAL. This is the worst abuse of our democratic rights that I have ever seen in Canada, where we prize our democratic rights! Return decision-making to the people where energy projects are going to be sited. Or compensate us appropriately by giving our community free electricity, and buying out our homes, when Turbines are sited within 2KM.

Save money by discontinuing wasteful “conservation” programs and advertising. Stop sending shaming letters to people, comparing their energy usage to their neighbours.

Funding of Indigenous groups to assist them to support/create their own energy projects, while an admirable program, should come through Indigenous Affairs, not from the Energy Ministry, where the costs of such subsidies must be added to my electricity bill.

Funding of the low-income subsidy for hydro costs, also a needed program for the growing number of citizens experiencing energy poverty, should be paid through Community and Social Services, a Ministry that is well positioned to know and support these families. The cost of this subsidy should not be paid through my hydro bill. It has nothing to do with my usage, or the energy being transmitted to me.

Stop the Sale of Hydro One! This is not the way to find money for your programs, by selling off our assets. If I did this with my own household budget/property, I would be bankrupt in no time. The privatization of Hydro One will end up costing us more for poorer service.

Thank-you for considering my suggestions.

[Original Comment ID: 204634]