The Proposed Green Energy Act

Will the Green Energy Act put a new face on the Ontario Economy or is it me-too-ism and too little, too late?

What is the act?  A standardized process for the approval, implementation and usage of new energy systems.  Streamlined processes change control from local governments to provincial government - consistency, ease of use.  New tariff system is more generous and long-term.  More costs absorbed by the system than the local producer.  Also smart grid and smart meter implementation.  Very fast implementation plans by the government - this year.

- Is there a proper balance in the act?

- Concerns about EA process being too restrictive or abrupt?

- Noise concerns with wind turbines - usually less noisy than the adjacent rural roadway!

- Do we have enough engineers and infrastructure expertise to roll this out?

- Germany did just this a few years ago and they've become a leader in alternative energy systems.  Explosive growth and global leadership - can we even catch-up?  Is Ontario just going to import all this technology or can we actually develop our own industry this late?

- Ontario would still be a Canadian and North American leader.  Still plenty of potential and room for growth given global climate situation.

- Concerns about paying so high of an incentive for solar?  Crazy - focus on cheaper and more efficient sources.  No - need extra incentives to encourage the R&D and development that needs to be the driver and catalyst to ensure this becomes a viable and popular energy source in the future.

- Can we create a new economy and actually implement it?

- Crazy supply and demand swings recently - silicon panel shortage and now a massive surplus - crashing prices - any new industry takes a decade or two to balance and become predictable.

 - McGuinty is positioning Ontario to be a world leader - first to shut down coal, Green Energy Act, Greenbelt Act, Better Places Agreement, Endangered Species Act, we have an opportunity to lead in North America along with California and what Obama is doing in the US.  In fact, we have to out Obama, Obama and be a step ahead of everything rolling out in the US.

- No shortage of opportunites.  

- Very clear given global warming we need to reduce carbon and eliminate coal plants.  Where will our future energy come from.  Utilities may just want to build new nuclear plants this moves us to innovation and new industries.

- Do we have enough engineers?  Green Energy Act premised on a wish - 50,000 green jobs but the companies don't exist yet who will employ these.  Not even a bootstrap yet - just a wish.  Slowly evolving into a plan.  Eliminating barriers and creating conditions for success.  Creating artificial incentives to try to facilitate future success.

- Better Places - massive push to electric vehicles on incredibly aggressive timelines.

- Gov't putting foundation in place - expecting society and private entreprise to rise to the occassion.  Huge opportunity for Ontario to be a world leader here by moving quickly and being ahead of other areas.

- Opportunity to retool our automobile industry is huge and deliver the next generation of required global automobiles.  Huge need/opportunity to be seen as a global leader.

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