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

Nuclear Globally

A new study on stating that nuclear cannot make an impact in fighting climate change.

Wind Power in Canada

Wind Power, where oh where is the Wind Power in our Country? Can you say everywhere, oh yes it is everywhere. Wind is not dying down at all. How come there aren't many Wind Turbines to hold the power and turn us into a renewable energy leader?

Well, I have travelled across this country and seen some really amazing Wind Power projects and feel that there is a need to just continue building. The best part about Wind is that you know that somewhere in the country the wind always blows. The province with the most Wind Turbines is Alberta, yes Alberta. Even with the Tar Sands they have amazing projects going on everywhere. Only as of last year did they get rid of their cap on Turbines.

Now where is Ontario on this issue? Well, so far behind that we can't even say the Government supports Wind Turbines until we, the citizens of Ontario, see action. We have one in Downtown Toronto, which makes people in power feel so happy they are doing good on the environment. Even as companies in Ontario try to put in new Wind Turbine projects, NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) groups say "We don't like the looks of them." Do they want a shiny new fur coat on a wind turbine? I feel that many people in Ontario just don't get this at all.

The right solution for Ontario is to allow every single person in the province to put up a small wind power project on their roof. This way we can take hold of the real power that is coming around us everyday. The amount of power that the Wind could produce would be enough to take out all Coal and Nuclear Power Stations.

The ironic thing is that the Nuclear Power in Pickering Ontario has a Wind Turbine on the site but it doesn't do anything. Just sits there everyday, and goes around and around and around.


Why can't we just create a 100% renewable energy future in Ontario? There is no reason we can't. We need to Green our skylight.


Goal: Put a Wind Turbine on the CN Tower

Green Jobs...

With the new Green Energy Act out in the wild there are 50,000 jobs that are going to be created with this act. With this we need to see more Fairs that are geared towards Green Jobs to create a Green Economy. All these fairs of late have been well attended as the economy goes downhill more every month, and the way out of this recession is jobs in renewable energy.

We don't need jobs in the Nuclear Industry but in the renewable energy area, which is good for everyone in any diversity community. We can create this in industry, commercial firms, and environmental NGOs to provide a comprehensive representation of the potential clean green economy future. It is our hope that through presenting employment options that extend beyond traditional consumer and manufacturing culture, participants will be inspired to work towards a truly innovative future.

Pushing the Ontario Government to create more jobs in renewable energy is the way to go. With this, Ontario should be investing in more Green Job Fair as Youth are having a hard time finding jobs in Green Economy. If we are able to get every Youth into industries that are safe and green, we will be pushing ahead of other provinces and countries. Our goal should be to create more jobs in Clean Energy than any country in Europe.

Tell the MPP in your area to create a new way forward by providing a huge list of where youth can find Green Jobs. Youth are willing to work in the Clean Green Economy more then any other age group. We need to send a message to our MPPs, we want Jobs in Renewable Energy.

Green Energy Act about to be released - make it nuke-free!

Ontario youth perform outside of Deputy Premier George Smitherman's office, acting out Curious George's exploration of energy issues, and seeing the light.