YCRO's Submission on the Green Energy Act

Take a moment this Earth Day to send a message to the Premier to tell him that nuclear is not green: Dalton.McGuinty@premier.gov.on.ca

Below, take a look at our submission to the Government on the Green Energy and Green Economy Act. Please feel free to take these arguments and ideas in your own letters to MPPs.

Dear Mr. Day,

Thank you for accepting our submission for comment on the Green Energy and Green Economy Act. I am writing to you on behalf of the Youth Coalition for a Renewable Ontario, which represents four youth-run organizations based in the province.

We would like to begin by congratulating the Government of Ontario on the Act. We support the goals as well as the main mechanism to increase renewable energy, that being the feed-in-tariff. The time to introduce Bill 150 was yesterday, however, we note North American leadership in this legislation and appreciate the speed at which it has been developed under the direction of Deputy Premier George Smitherman.

The Coalition understands that there is more that can be done within the Act and that nuclear investment in the province would force renewable generation to compete with a large, highly subsidised industry. We therefore recommend a number of changes and/or additions so that the Act:

- eliminates the ability for nuclear generation companies to pass capital cost overruns onto taxpayers and ratepayers, and implement stiff penalties for project delays;
- does not allow the government to bypass public review of major non-renewable generation proposals;
- includes combined heat and power in the feed-in-tariff program;
- allows for all possible opportunities to increase demand-side management and conservation in all provincial sectors;
- defines strong conservation targets within the Building Code;
- includes prices for community and First Nations projects for all types of renewable power development;
- includes ambitious targets for conservation and renewable power;
- increases the 2MW cap for community based water power; and
- does not place green energy projects in already threatened farmland, forest, prairie or wetland.

In the worst recession in six decades it is evident that this Act, particularly with the above additions and those being recommended by the Green Energy Act Coalition, will be able to increase green jobs within the province and allow Ontario to move to a 100% clean, just and renewable energy system.

Sincerely

Darcy Higgins, on behalf of the

Youth Coalition for a Renewable Ontario

Sierra Youth Coalition
Students Against Climate Change
University of Waterloo Sustainability Project
Queen's Backing Action on Climate Change