{"id":412,"date":"2018-05-12T15:48:19","date_gmt":"2018-05-12T15:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offtotoronto.ca\/?p=412"},"modified":"2021-05-07T19:45:05","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T19:45:05","slug":"part-3-for-a-cleaner-ontario-why-future-ontario-premieres-should-still-embrace-the-ontario-green-energy-act-of-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/concepcions.us\/geodaryll\/part-3-for-a-cleaner-ontario-why-future-ontario-premieres-should-still-embrace-the-ontario-green-energy-act-of-2009\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 3: For a Cleaner Ontario: Why Future Ontario Premieres Should Still Embrace the Ontario Green Energy Act of 2009 [UofT docs 2018]"},"content":{"rendered":"

[U of T submitted assignments]<\/em><\/p>\n

How we can improve the Green Energy Act?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winfield & Dalton posit that there is room for improvement in Ontario\u2019s GEA and FIT Programs; they state that Ontario could still include an annual or bi-annual decrease in the FIT contract rates, something that the GEA overlooked in other European FIT programs. Jami & Walsh also propose that a collaborative participation process should be included in the approval of FIT projects, as well as the inclusion of a \u201cknowledge-broker,\u201d or someone who is able to convey the scientific knowledge, processes, advantages, and disadvantages clearly to local communities. This suggestion is in fact supported by a survey conducted by Langer, Decker & Menrad (2017) in which respondents (in Germany) say that they prefer informative participation over financial compensation. Also, amendments to the GEA could include proponents of the increase in research and funding for the development of more efficient renewable energy projects and more energy storage facilities.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

All in all, the GEA is a well-intended piece of legislation. Yes, there are still no available data regarding the exact number of jobs gained or lost because of the GEA and public participation was cut down to a minimum for FIT Projects; however, the GEA was able to ensure that Ontario becomes mostly reliant on non-carbon emitting energy sources, which led to the dismantling of the extremely dirty coal-fired plants.       <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Green Energy Act is by no means perfect. If we are to leave it at its current state, vocal opposition to the GEA would grow faster and faster until the public is clamoring for its repeal, and we lose out on the possibility of providing our citizens a better and cleaner tomorrow. Amendments to the GEA could be made in order to save it; the inclusion of additional public participation requirements as well as the funding for more efficient renewable energy production and storage technologies come to mind.<\/p>\n

I would like to leave you, my dear reader, with a great quote from the movie Tomorrowland (2018). It states:<\/p>\n

In every moment, there\u2019s the possibility of a better future, but you people won\u2019t believe it. And because you won\u2019t believe it, you won\u2019t do what is necessary to make it a reality. So, you dwell on this terrible future. You resign yourselves to it for one reason, because that future does not ask anything of you today.<\/p>\n

We need to make a stand in order to ensure that we, the citizens of Ontario, still have a great future; a future that is clean and sustainable, devoid of most of the disastrous effects of climate change.<\/p>\n

References:
\nAmin, F. (2012). Ontario’s Feed-In Tariff Program: Two-Year Review Report. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Toronto. Retrieved from: http:\/\/www.energy.gov.on.ca\/en\/files\/2011\/10\/FIT-Review-Report-en.pdf
\nArtuso, A. (2013, April 11). Wind power kills jobs and increases electricity costs: Report. Toronto Sun. Retrieved from: http:\/\/torontosun.com\/2013\/04\/11\/wind-power-kills-jobs-and-increases-electricity-costs-report\/wcm\/24579f05-f01a-4928-aa0c-124b6b6a5b4d
\nArtuso, A. (2017, November 21). Ontario lost up to $1.2 billion selling clean energy: engineers. Toronto Sun. Retrieved from: http:\/\/torontosun.com\/news\/provincial\/ontario-lost-up-to-1-2-billion-selling-clean-energy-at-a-loss-engineers
\nGallant, P. & Fox, G. (2011). Omitted Costs, Inflated Benefits: Renewable Energy Policy in Ontario. Bulletin of Science Technology & Society 31(5), 369-376.
\nIndependent Electricity System Operator. (2017-2018). Global Adjustment by Component. [Data File]. Retrieved from: http:\/\/www.ieso.ca\/-\/media\/files\/ieso\/power-data\/price-overview\/ga-by-components.xlsx?la=en
\nJami, A. & Walsh, P. (2016). Wind Power Deployment: The Role of Public Participation in the Decision-Making Process in Ontario, Canada. Sustainability 8 (8), 713.
\nLanger, K., Decker, T., & Menrad, K. (2017). Public participation in wind energy projects located in Germany: Which form of participation is the key to acceptance? Renewable Energy 112, 63-73.
\nLindelof, D., Bird, B., Chernov, J. (Producers), & Bird, B. (Director). (2015). Tomorrowland [Motion Picture]. United States: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
\nMabee, W., Mannion, J., Carpenter, T. (2011). Comparing the feed-in tariff incentives for renewable electricity in Ontario and Germany. Energy Policy. 40, 480-489.
\nMcKritick, R. (2013). Environmental and Economic Consequences of Ontario\u2019s Green Energy Act. Fraser Institute. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.fraserinstitute.org\/sites\/default\/files\/environmental-and-economic-consequences-ontarios-green-energy-act.pdf
\nMinistry of Energy. (2011, December 5). Ontario\u2019s Solar Energy Industry Creating Jobs: McGuinty Government Building a Clean, Modern, Reliable Electricity System. Ontario Ministry of Energy. Retrieved from: https:\/\/news.ontario.ca\/mei\/en\/2011\/12\/ontarios-solar-energy-industry-creating-jobs.html
\nNo Author. (No Date). Price Overview: Global Adjustment. Independent Electricity System Operator.<\/em> Retrieved from: http:\/\/www.ieso.ca\/power-data\/price-overview\/global-adjustment
\nNo Author. (No Date). Need for Change. Ontario Ministry of Housing. Retrieved from: http:\/\/www.mah.gov.on.ca\/Page6672.aspx
\nNo Author. (2017, October 19). Ontario\u2019s green energy policies killed jobs. Toronto Sun. Retrieved from: http:\/\/torontosun.com\/opinion\/editorials\/ontarios-green-energy-policies-killed-jobs
\nNo Author. (2009, October 6). Taking T.O. off the grid. NOW Magazine. Retrieved from: https:\/\/nowtoronto.com\/taking-to-off-the-grid\/
\nNo Author. (No Date). The Green Energy Act. Ontario Ministry of Housing. <\/em>Retrieved from: http:\/\/www.mah.gov.on.ca\/Page6670.aspx
\nOlive, D. (2018, March 19). What would a Premier Doug Ford mean for Ontario\u2019s economy? [Editorial]. Toronto Star. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.thestar.com\/business\/opinion\/2018\/03\/16\/what-premier-doug-ford-would-mean-for-ontarios-economy.html
\nPittis, D. (2017, December 22). The wait is over. The battery revolution is here: Don Pittis. CBC News. Retrieved from: http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/business\/batteries-canada-technology-1.4455998
\nScotti, M. (2018, March 12). From sex-ed to a carbon tax: Here\u2019s where Doug Ford stands on big issues. Global News. Retrieved from: https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/4077129\/doug-ford-policy-platform-big-issues\/
\nSongsore, E., & Buzzelli, M. (2015). Wind energy development in Ontario: a process\/product paradox. Local Environment 20(12), 1429-1451. Routledge Press.
\nStreich, M. (2011). Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009: A Fit-ing Policy for North America. 33 Hous. J. Int’l L. 419.
\nWinfield, M. & Dolter, B. (2014). Energy, economic and environmental discourses and their policy impact: The case of Ontario’s Green Energy and Green Economy Act. Energy Policy 68, 423-435.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related Links:<\/p>\n

Part 1: For a Cleaner Ontario: Why Future Ontario Premieres Should Still Embrace the Ontario Green Energy Act of 2009 [UofT docs 2018]<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 2: For a Cleaner Ontario: Why Future Ontario Premieres Should Still Embrace the Ontario Green Energy Act of 2009 [UofT docs 2018]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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