Ontario has revealed plans for $8 billion in Green Energy Projects. The additional money will fund projects in 86 communities, and create 20 thousand jobs.
The funding is the latest step towards the McGuinty government’s plan to introduce greener forms of energy to Ontario’s power grid. In January 2010 the Premier signed a $7 billion deal to give a consortium led by Samsung preferential treatment.
Green Energy Projects to Create 20 Thousand Jobs
The money will fund 184 approved projects, including 86 community and aboriginal communities. All of this is in addition to the 510 medium projects announced in March 2010. Combined the projects will create 2500 megawatts of power for the power grid. One of the major wind projects is located on-shore in Clarington Ontario, and three solar projects in the Cornwall area.
The advancements will make the province a green energy leader according to Premier Dalton McGuinty’s comments to CBC.CA that:
“We have practical, aggressive policies to secure green energy generation, research, and manufacturing, which will create good jobs in a growing industry.”
The projects are intended to create 20 thousand jobs. The addition of green energy is expected to add an additional $5 to Ontarian’s hydro bills by the end of this year. Energy Minister Brad Duguid in comments published by CTV.CA urged us to look to the future, “Right now, and in the past, we’ve been producing energy at the expense of ourselves and our children. This is an opportunity for us as a generation to help clean up our air, to help provide a healthier future for our children. The provincial government argues the green energy plan can create up to 50 thousand jobs.
New Democratic Party Responds to Green Energy Announcement
The New Democratic Party (NDP) responded to McGuinty’s Energy plan. They argue the province can create more jobs if they bypass nuclear and gas-fired technology in favor of more green technology.
In comments published by the Canadian Press, Energy Critic Peter Taubins urged the government to move away from it:
“That’s where the action has to come, moving away from those sources, and putting a lot more of our eggs back into the efficiency and conservation basket.”
The NDP argues it would be cheaper to do this as well. In order to afford its Green Energy initiatives, the Liberals have passed some measures of their own. Recently the McGuinty government passed a measure adding an additional $4/ year to hydro bills. Additionally, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is seeking a rate increase to 9.6% or an additional $2.75/month. The measures are intended to reduce the $53 million cost of the strategy.
