Those of us opposing industrial wind power generation projects in places where no such industrial activity should ever be, have known how crazy Ontario’s power policies have been, despite the bland patronizing comments from government and the insinuations from the predatory wind power development lobby.

In today’s Financial Post, editor Terence Corcoran takes a grim view and refers to a damning new report from the CD Howe Institute.

For almost five years FP Comment has inveighed against the Ontario government’s profoundly uneconomic and costly electricity regime, a dictatorial and monopolist system that uses taxes and subsidies to greenify the power system of the largest provincial economy in Canada.  As I wrote in 2009: “In the midst of a major economic meltdown, and with looming budget deficits totaling more than $18-billion, now might not be the best time for the government of Ontario to be embarking on a crushing new…

Here is video from CTV London News on the opening ceremonies in Mitchell today, at the 100th annual International Plowing Match.

http://london.ctvnews.ca/international-plowing-match-opens-with-anti-wind-protestors-1.1458452

Premier Kathleen Wynne and members of the Liberal Party were greeted by sign-carrying rural residents as they rode on the Liberal float in the International Plowing Match parade this morning.

Several dozen people carried signs denoting “Not a Willing Host” with Ontario community names.

The Plowing Match continues until Friday.

Premier Wynne hoists the Ontario flag surrounded by sign-holding people who TRULY love Ontario

Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli waves as Not a Willing Host signs wave back

Parker Gallant, who analyzes the Ontario power system and comments frequently in this space and for The Financial Post in its series “Ontario’s Power Trip”, appeared yesterday on journalist Rob Snow’s program on CFRA radio, Ottawa. While Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli claims Ontario is “making money” selling excess power, Parker says this isn’t true: in fact, he says, Ontario is losing “hundreds of millions” with the way it manages the system.
He explains everything in 10 minutes or less…10 very sad minutes for Ontario.
The podcast of his interview is begins at minute 1:06 on the podcast.

Thank you for taking the time to communicate your concerns to us.

The Co-operators Co-operative Development Program (CDP) was established in 1992 to support emerging and expanding Canadian co-operatives and through…

September 9, 2013

[Tongue in Cheek Letter]

The Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Energy,

Dear Minister Chiarelli:

It has come to my attention that the Independent Electricity System Operator will start paying industrial wind developers for not producing any electricity, starting on September 11, 2013.  I understand that they could possibly receive as much as $200,000 per megawatt of installed power for not producing that electricity.

This leads me to believe that I could also be persuaded to not produce any electricity in order to obtain the benefits of that program.  I would start small and perhaps not produce electricity for say 2 megawatts, which would mean a payment of $400,000 per year. In a few years I could expand and not produce electricity for, say, 10 megawatts.

I understand that IESO put up meteorological stations to determine what electricity is not produced and that these stations are also paid…

From Kawartha Lakes, Cavan-Monaghan Council not buying wind developer myths about coal power, citizens demonstrate against wind power generation projects.

Wind farm developer met with protest in Cavan Monaghan

Roughly 200 residents gathered outside the Township offices to protest against proposed five-turbine wind farm

Cavan Monaghan Wind Farm Protest

Sarah Frank/This Week

Roughly 200 people showed up at the Cavan Monaghan Township offices on Tuesday (Sept 3) to protest against a proposed wind farm in the area. It would straddle Cavan Monaghan Township and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Peterborough This Week

MILLBROOK — Met by an angry crowd and a team of disapproving Cavan Monaghan Township councillors, the developer of a proposed wind farm was sent a clear message on Tuesday (Sept. 3).

In town to make a delegation to the Township regarding a five-turbine wind farm that would overlook the Devil’s Elbow skill hill area…

For those who think Europe is the haven for wind power generation done well, and where citizens are happy with the beautiful turbines spinning happily in the breeze, this will be a shock: people are sick, the landscape is ruined, and property values (and lives) devastated.

This short video comes from Russia Today via Facebook; thanks to Esther Wrightman and the Middlesex-Lambton group for calling attention to it.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=703983162949836

In spite of the fact that properties near wind power projects remain unsold, or take a long time to sell, and sell at reduced prices, the Ontario government, MPAC, and of course the wind power lobby organization all insist there is no effect on property values. On the one hand, we have the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) including wind power plants as a negative to be disclosed on the Sellers Property Information Sheet, and we have Realtors telling us buyers don’t even want to SEE the turbines, let alone live next to them, and on the other we have these industry-supported opinions that say, everything is just fine.

Ben Hoen has released yet another study on property values (the last one was roundly trashed, in particular by Sunak and Madelener of Aachen University) which this time seems to answer criticisms that past studies did not look at property…