Ontario, Canada presented legislation on Monday to encourage renewable energy growth. The government estimates the act would create 50,000 new jobs.
The Green Energy and Green Economy Act of 2009, if passed, would implement a feed-in tariff to fund renewable energy construction. It would also boost domestic requirements for renewable energy, a move that would create jobs in many sectors, from steel mills and law firms.
“Ontario’s Green Energy Act could propel the province past California as the most innovative North American leader in the renewable energy field,” said Denis Hayes, the former director of the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory and founder of Earth Day. “This is the sort of healthy, friendly competition between Canada and the US that will leave us both better off.”
The act isn’t without its critics. The “not in my backyard” group argues that the act will make it too easy to construct renewable energy by voiding certain laws that might hamper renewable energy projects. Others mistrust the act’s clause that gives government the ability to audit public agencies and consumers to prepare energy conservation plans.
The proposed act must go through all the gears of the legal system before it has a chance to hit the law books. Canadians who would like to have a say in whether this act is ultimately adopted can contact their Caucus members and share their opinions. Would you vote for this act?
Via: North American Wind Power
The problem I have with the renewable or “green” energy is that it’s creating a new entity to compete in an energy market that is already (in the majority of cases) meeting demand.
What this means is that a green energy company will begin to steal customers from the existing energy companies. With a reduced customer base, these companies will have no choice but to either raise it’s rates (and become non-competitive) or start cutting jobs.
If this happens privately, fine. But how would you feel if the government used your tax dollars to pay for someone to take your job?
I am all for it!