Repealing the Green Energy…

Repealing the Green Energy Act will increase our dependence on non-renewable energy, create barriers to innovation, and destroy an industry that Ontarians will nonetheless continue to pay for through our energy bills for years to come. This is a short-sighted and dangerous decision. As an Ontarian concerned with the long term impact of our dependence on non-renewable energy sources, I ask that this decision be reconsidered, and that more measured steps be taken to make improve Ontario's renewable energy regime.

If Premier Ford wants to reduce the cost of renewable energy (through changes to feed-in-tariff pricing), so be it. The high prices were designed to create an industry from scratch, and the new government should certainly take steps to make the regime more affordable and successful. However, cutting the program entirely is a death knell to the renewable energy industry. Despite this planed execution, Ontarians will continue to pay for the short-lived industry for years to come, through our hydro bills. If the total repeal goes forward, instead of enjoying a continued reduction in our dependence on non-renewable energy sources, our costs will be sunk and the efforts of the past decade laid to waste.

Repealing the Green Energy Act also sends a clear signal to innovators that Ontario is closed for business, and that our government makes rash decisions to cut costs at any price. What company would invest here when the rule book can be thrown out without study, notice or consultation? It is not clear that political minds have been turned to the impact of the proposed repeal on construction contractors, engineers, consultants and manufacturers connected to the renewable energy industry. The long term economic consequences of the proposed repeal should be considered. If they were, a full repeal would not be the preferred course of action.

Finally, requiring proponents of future projects to establish "need' for renewable power is utter nonsense. The need to reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources has long been proven. That should be "need" enough.

For the reasons outlined above the proposal to repeal the Green Energy Act should not go forward as proposed. There are more measured steps the current government could undertake to improve the industry and provide for the long term energy needs of the province.