Opposition Critic's Wind is Blowing in the Wrong Direction

Here is the complete News Release

My comments to follow!

Foote encourages government to move forward with wind power projects

August 23, 2006

Judy Foote, Opposition Critic for Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and MHA for the District of Grand Bank, is encouraging government to focus their efforts on developing more wind power projects in the province. Foote referenced projects such as St. Lawrence that have undergone detailed preliminary work, but have been placed on hold by government.

"There are many areas of the province that would benefit from wind power projects," said Ms. Foote. "Last week, the Mayor of Labrador City encouraged government to place more focus on developing wind projects to generate electricity in his area. While I understand government is currently developing its Energy Plan, this process has been ongoing for almost three years and has placed most wind projects on hold indefinitely. The province has delayed long enough, it is now time to move forward with this technology.

"When the previous Liberal government was in power, our focus was on developing clean, renewable energy sources such as wind. Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro was working with a private investor near St. Lawrence to research the feasibility and potential of wind power in the province. All information pointed towards a significant and feasible project, however, these activities have since been placed on hold by government.

"Not only would wind power create a clean and environmentally friendly energy source, it would develop new opportunities for rural areas of our province. Many feel wind turbines would become a tourist attraction, and the building of the infrastructure for these turbines would employ local people and generate new business opportunities for rural communities.

"For the Burin Peninsula, which is suffering from an idle shipyard facility and FPI plant closures, a project in St. Lawrence would benefit the local economy. The possibility of fabricating wind turbines locally in Marystown would certainly provide new opportunities for an already skilled and world class workforce. This situation appears to be a win-win for everyone. The people of the province get a clean energy source to cut down on pollution and the burning of expensive oil at Holyrood, while at the same time providing new economic benefits to regions of our province that are currently suffering from the inaction of this government."

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Okay here we go!
First please concentrate on what is blowing around you - the Lower Churchill development. There are serious questions which need to be asked about the continued cloak and dagger meetings between Hydro officials and who knows?
We do know that McCarthy Tetreault has been googling "the lower churchill falls", ding ding.
We do know that Ed Martin is celebrating the fact that Ontario would like to green up and take advantage of hydro power from Labrador to get the competitive edge over us, ding ding. Apparently he's in his element rubbing elbows with Central Canada - where they are making him feel important.
We do know that Newfoundland and Labrador needs renewable, competitively priced power to attract secondary processing of any resources in the province.
We do know that if we export the Lower as we did the Upper, somebody else gets the benefits, ding ding.
We do know that Quebec continues to talk about river development, including the Romaine River, with maps that move the Labrador boundary, ding ding.
We do know that before the Energy Plan is released the government should not be talking any power - as they have yet to predict our own needs for the next 25-50 years, ding ding.
We have learned, I think, that power generation should be in the hands of the Crown where all owners - the people of the Province reap the rewards, ding ding. Are the Liberals now suggesting privatizing power generation?
Judy - are you unsure of the mess we get into when "private" generates? Do the paper mills ring a bell? ding ding ding
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Now for the wind scenario you present...Help me out! Me and 500,000 of my buddies want to own an acre of wind so we can gouge individually just like the big boys. Wind is currently not owned by Exxon or anything is it. Just wondering how much it will cost to breathe soon.
Okay so Liberals are flirting with private power generation - generation that will then enter our grid and what? Maybe collapse the whole system like that little incident that knocked out the Northeastern U.S. and Ontario. That little incident where HQ made a fortune because they control their own grid and the power in it?
Judy, do you have a particular problem with Hydro generating wind power so that all the boys and girls on the Burin Peninsula can get a piece of the action - or are you leaning toward some big boys selling to hydro at cost plus profit? Hydro sells at cost plus a lower profit and then all that money goes back to the people? You got a problem with that?
Wind needs back-up. Gone any ideas on that or are you relying that Holyrood can supply us for the next 25-50 years? Not expecting much growth are ye?
Wind is more expensive than hydro - great for exporting after we get hooked to a mainland grid that is.
Hydro - keep pile
Export - oil and gas, wind, wave, and/or tidal
If you are concerned about the long-term viability of rural Newfoundland and Labrador - think energy and think smart.
Perhaps some new policy advice is required in the Energy area. I remember Walter had the same problem, could it be the same source of info?
BY all means use the wind we have to generate revenues and to create industry on the equipment side - such as turbine assembly and even some R & D respecting alternate energy technology, that's where the private sector investment is needed. You don't need to give business people the wind. That would be a giveaway of natural resources.

Finally - do you wonder why Ottawa now has such an interest in our energy - why Ottawa now wants a National Energy Plan - the reason our Premier has been given the honour to chair the Premier's energy committee?
Ontario and Quebec want our power - that is commendable and intelligent!
Unfortunately it absolutely puts the screws to our future in Newfoundland and Labrador.