Posts Tagged ‘Ontario Power Authority’
The Proposed Mississauga/Oakville Natural Gas Plant the Result of more Wind Turbines
Wind Power is the least reliable source of energy in the Ontario grid. Power generated from wind is intermittant at best, and unlike all other sources of power within Ontario’s grid, not only can output not be controlled, the folks who bring us these massive industrial wind complexes know so little about their own product they over estimate how much power they will feed into the grid 58% of the time. (This number provided by the Independant Electricty Operator ‘Wind Power Forcast Impacts on Effeceiency’ presented at the May 14th 2008 meeting of the Wind Power Standing Committee).
The IESO describes the wind industry’s failure to estimate their output accurately (something no other form of power within the grid has the same issue with) by saying “The variable nature of wind will however introduce specific challenges to the reliability of the integrated power system. These challenges are magnified as the number of wind power projects that are connected to the grid increases.”
By ‘specific challenges’ they mean supplying a constant flow of electricity to meet the needs of Ontario’s power use. Because wind power is not remotely tied to supply and demand, other sources of energy that are reliable need to step up when the wind calms down. Criticize me if you’d like, but this comes from “Mr. Wind” himself (as George Smitherman has taken to calling himself — seriously.)
Germany is building 26 new coal power plants to solve this problem. Denmark is exporting the power and not using it for domestic use. Texas has opted to have brown outs. Ontario is proposing Natural Gas plants to solve this problem. In fact, George Smitherman himself has said the Natural Gas plants being built around the GTA are designed to pick up the slack when the wind isn’t blowing sufficiently to allow turbines to generate electricity (approximately 65% of the time). The only reason downtown Toronto were forced to accept a Natural Gas plant on the waterfront, and the residents of Mississauga/Oakville are fighting like hell to protect their airshed from even more pollution is because as George Smitherman says, you need to build Natural Gas to as a relief for when turbines don’t generate electricity (which is most of the time).
These two issues are really one.
It seems to me like Ontario needs to have an honest and open debate about our energy future before allowing the wind industry to force turbines on some communities, risking human health and the environment; while forcing natural gas plants on others which also risk human health, and the environment. You’ll notice both trash local democracy in the process and neither is planned sufficiently to protect human health or the environment. Incidentally, both are heavily influenced by big oil.
Interestingly, Transalta – the Albertan company planning to build the plant in Mississauga/Oakville – is the same oil and gas company that operates wind turbines. You may remember them from such bad projects as Pincher Creek in Alberta that sees the needless death of 700 bats each year, even though Transalta could mitigate this easily if they chose to.
Enbridge is another oil and gas company involved in the devleopment of industrial scale wind complexes and the sale of Natural Gas in Ontario.
Suncor is an oil and gas company building turbines in Ontario too.
I fundamentally believe that Ontarians have a right to participate in decision making. It’s clear Dalton McGuinty doesn’t support the democratic process or environmental protection. Dalton McGuinty isn’t being a leader by trampling democracy, he’s sticking up for his Party’s donors. It seems to me like accepting money from corporations your government hands out contracts to is highly unethical. But for Dalton McGuinty this seems to be business as usual with his friends in the oil and gas and wind industries. Planning an Ontario Liberal Party fundraiser seems to be as easy as calling up the folks who have been given government contracts and advising them of the legal donation limit. Challenge me on this, but first visit the Elections Ontario website to see how many folks with government contracts donate exclusively to the Ontario Liberal Party.
Dalton McGuinty should take note that his friend Ben Chin (who he appointed VP Communications of the Ontario Power Authority) lost the Toronto Danforth by-election to Peter Tabuns largely on the Portlands Natural Gas plant.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see some of the Liberal MPPs in Mississagua and Oakville finding they have a similar problem if this project is forced on this community by a Premier far more interested in his donors and friends financial interests than those of the citizens of this province.
It is citizens that have the vote, and there isn’t enough dirty money in his party’s coffers to change that simple fact.
3 Comments »Just The Facts: Wind Power in Ontario and Europe
Below are a series of quotes from various sources I have come across during my research. I will summarize at the bottom.
The Role of the Public:
Greenpeace on Public Participation in Offshore Wind Project Decisions:
“Naturally, in a democratic society, public acceptance is vital to the ultimate success of any initiative.” Sea Wind Europe – Greenpeace
“Every wind farm will be required to seek some form of planning permission, and inherent in this process is affording the local community an opportunity to appraise and comment on a proposed development, or on a wider development plan for an area.” Sea Wind Europe – Greenpeace
European Wind Energy Association On Public Participation in Wind Project Decisions:
“Public acceptance is key for the future development of wind energy in Europe.” European Wind Energy Association
Dalton McGuinty on Public Participation:
“Taking a swipe at those who oppose wind turbines off the Scarborough Bluffs, Premier Dalton McGuinty is signalling he won’t hesitate to foist “green” energy projects on communities across Ontario.” Toronto Star - McGuinty vows to stop wind-farm NIMBYs
Bluewater Wind Power (Deleware Offshore Project) on Public Participation:
“We value open and continuing two-way communications. It is important to us that we know and understand each person’s concerns, questions and ideas. This understanding helps us to improve our responsiveness to the needs of the community, which in turn contributes to the success of our projects.” Bluewater Wind Values
NaiKun – BC Offshore Wind Project on Public Participation:
“NaiKun is committed to working with local communities to ensure that the project is designed and built in consideration of community interests.” NaiKun Community Consultation
Jim Gordon – President of Cape Wind (Cape Cod Wind Project):
“We at Cape Wind share our neighbors’ concerns for the environment—local, regional and global—and act accordingly. Our philosophy toward community relations is simple. Be honest and open, be a good neighbor, and safeguard our shared resources and environment.” Cape Wind – Being a Good Neighbour
Offshore Wind In General:
The Ontario Power Authority on Why Offshore Wind Isn’t In It’s 20 Year Power System Plan (June 2008):
“The Ontario Power Authority, the government agency that effectively determines which large power projects live or die, says offshore wind costs too much to be considered in its 20-year power system plan. It acknowledges that the technology provides more power than onshore projects, but not enough to justify the higher cost of building offshore wind farms.” (Toronto Star, June 30th 2008)
Earth Policy Institute on Scale of World Wide Offshore Wind Development (March 2008):
“Offshore wind capacity accounts for almost 1,170 megawatts worldwide, roughly 1.2 percent of the 94,100 megawatts of installed capacity at the end of 2007; while this is a small share of the total, it is up from less than 0.3 percent in 2000.” (Earth Policy Institute, March 4th 2008)
On Proper Siting of Wind Offshore Turbines:
German Wind Energy Association On Balancing Nature Conservation With Offshore Wind (Undated – 2008/9):
“Mainly for nature conservation reasons, most German offshore parks will be erected up to 20-60 km away from the coastline and in 20-40 meters deep waters. So far, experience of building such wind farms is very limited, hence higher risk attached make financing from banks more complicated.” (German Wind Energy Association – Future Trends: Offshore)
Bluewater (Deleware Wind Farm Developer) on Siting Their Project:
“Bluewater Wind’s plan to site turbines more than 11.5 nautical miles from shore removes them from close proximity to bird population fly zones. Nonetheless, expert ornithologists will conduct thorough avian studies before, during and after construction of the Delaware wind park.” – www.bluewater.com
Cape Wind – North America’s First Offshore Wind Project:
“The wind park will be sited on Horseshoe Shoal off the coast of Cape Cod. Hyannis will be over five miles away—and most of the Cape beaches will be further away.” Cape Wind Project Siting
Nai Kun (British Columbia) Offshore Wind Turbine Project On Siting:
“It is here, several kilometers from the nearest shore that NaiKun has secured a 550 square kilometer permit area within which we plan to build the first phase of our wind project, a 396 MW offshore wind farm, and future phases.” Nai Kun Project Site
Greenpeace Europe on ‘Buffer Zone for Offshore Wind’
“The 5km boundary was to reflect a general move by some countries to impose a coastal buffer zone for very large offshore wind farms on visual grounds.” Sea Wind Europe – Greenpeace
How Far Offshore Are Current 100 Megawatt Plus Wind Turbine Projects:
Denmark – Closest 5-15 KMs – Average 12 KMs (four projects)
Germany – Closest 100 KMs – Average 100 KMs (one project)
Netherlands – Closest 8-12 KMs – Average 16.5 KMs (two projects)
Sweden – Closest 10 KMs – Average 10 KMs (one project)
United Kingdom – Closest 7 KMs – Average 9 KMs (three projects)
Source: Offshore Wind Statistics January 2009 – European Wind Energy Association
Toronto Hydro’s Proposal – 2-4 KMs
Source: Toronto Hydro Energy Services, Stakeholder Anemometer Briefing
On Environmental Assessments:
Cape Wind – North America’s First Offshore Wind Turbine Project On Environmental Assessments:
“Cape Wind is committed to protecting the Cape Cod environment during construction and when the wind park is operating. Prior to receiving permits for construction, Cape Wind will complete comprehensive environmental studies for federal, state and local agencies, and provide opportunity for public comment.” Cape Wind Environmental Studies
Nai Kun Wind Development (British Columbia) On Environmental Assessments:
“NaiKun is strongly committed to the Environmental Assessment process. Through the process we intend to clearly identify any potential effects and propose appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures to ensure the project can proceed with no significant adverse effects.” Nai Kun Environmental Assessment [Nai Kun is subject to a Federal Environmental Assessment, a Provincial Environmental Assessment and a Haida Environmental Assessment]
Bluewater Wind on Environmental Assessments:
“We seek objective environmental reviews. Our experts conduct comprehensive scientific and environmental studies and analysis on all aspects of our wind park projects, and we welcome the input of all experts in the public discussion.” Bluewater Wind Values
Greenpeace On Environmental Assessments For Offshore Wind In Europe:
“It is noted that, when investigating a potential site, developers must consider in detail a wide range of constraints. Potential impacts, and their magnitude, are subject to in-depth assessment in both the Strategic Environmental Assessment and the Environmental Impact Assessment processes. The former is an assessment of government plans and policies carried out prior to their implementation, the latter an impact assessment carried out by a developer in support of an application for project consent.” Sea Wind Europe – Greenpeace
Dalton McGuinty’s Position On Wind:
Dalton McGuinty wants Ontario to be the only jurisdiction to install offshore wind projects without community acceptance and a process that allows for community participation in decision making.
Dalton McGuinty wants Ontario to place large offshore wind projects closer to shore than any other jurisdiction in the world.
Ontario is the only jurisdiction in the world that does not require an environmental assessment before construction of an offshore wind project. (The closest is a “proponent driven, self-assessment process”).
Dalton McGuinty supports a project that ignores the Ontario Power Authority’s 20 year power system plan and all available data on wind viability off the Scarborough Bluffs. The Canada Wind Atlas, the Helimax Report his Government commissioned, and the two waterfront turbines that act as book ends to the location (both failures).
Dalton McGuinty believes you’re NIMBY if you agree with Greenpeace Europe, the European Wind Energy Association, the German Wind Energy Association, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Deleware, Massachusetts or British Columbia all of whom support minimum setbacks from shore at least 60% farther than the Toronto Hydro Energy Service proposal.
Dalton McGuinty believes you’re NIMBY if you agree with The Ontario Power Authority, Helimax, the Canada Wind Atlas or the evidence from the Pickering Wind Generating Station and The Exhibition Wind Turbine data that suggest Toronto Hydro Energy Services project would not be feasible.
Dalton McGuinty believes you’re NIMBY if you want his government and his friends at Toronto Hydro Energy Services to carry out an environmental assessment like virtually all other offshore wind projects of this size in the world.
Dalton McGuinty believes you’re NIMBY if you expect Toronto Hydro Energy Services not to knowingly lie to the community, to hold a fair, open and honest consultation process and consider the community’s concerns instead of defending their project.
In truth – Dalton McGuinty doesn’t have an answer for why his government doesn’t have minimum setbacks, doesn’t require environmental assessments and why they refuse to accept science and instead of doing something about that – he bows to pressure from the wind industry and uses the politics of divison to create conflict among citizens in his Province.
Dalton McGuinty is wrong. He should be ashamed of himself and he should apologize to Guildwood residents for wrongfully singling them out in a poorly thought out speech in London. Our concerns are environmental and it would be great if the Premier could join Guildwood residents in taking the environment seriously.
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