A new study suggests the province should restart some of its coal plants.
That’s because The Fraser Institute says wind and solar energy have caused a
50 per cent jump in Ontarian's power bills since 2004.
Renewable energy in Ontario produces four per cent of the province's electricity, but takes up 20 per cent of a bill, according to the right-leaning think tank.
Gerry Ryan, of Huron East Against Wind Turbines, agrees.
“What we're doing isn't sustainable. Our energy prices are going to continue to go through the roof."
University of Guelph economic professor and study author, Ross McKitrick, says electricity prices are going down in the U.S.
“Our rates are going up and theirs are falling, which is a direct result of public policy.”
The report suggests it's time to stop building more wind turbines and solar panels and instead restart some coal plants, import more electricity from Quebec and refurbish more nuclear reactors.
“They’ve got some good technology for coal these days. If you do it properly, coal plants can produce very environmentally clean power,” Ryan says.
But those in favour of renewable energy suggest it's not all that bad.
Once the infrastructure of substations and new hydro lines are built, the longer term benefits of renewables, and specifically wind, will really be realized.
"The lifespan of substations and the infrastructure is 50 years so all we really have to do after 20 years…is maintain the turbines. That's when we as a society will really see the benefits of wind as a whole,” says Sebastian Craft, a wind turbine lease holder from Bruce County.
