The meeting held last night at the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre was an exercise in the dynamics, or more accurately the domination, of stakeholder politics on the so-called public consultation process.
Ostensibly, about 100 members of the public were gathered at one of a dozen sessions being held by the Ministry of Energy to get feedback on the Ontario Power Authority's proposed energy plan for the future, which calls for up to two-dozen new nuclear stations.
Speakers who were employed by environmental groups or by the nuclear industry made up about 60 per cent of the deputations. A few people (Dave Martin of Greenpeace, Jose Etcheverry of the David Suzuki Foundation and Michael Ivanco, representing unionized employees at Atomic Energy of Canada in the Sheridan Research Centre) spoke several times, usually to do battle with each other.
When a few ordinary citizens waited out the filibusters to get to the microphone, they expressed understandable confusion over the flurry of flying stats. Does Europe have advanced systems of wind energy that make up a significant part of the power grid as Etcheverry said, or is that a luxury afforded by the interconnectedness of the European system which is anchored by the French supply, which is 95 per cent nuclear, as Ivanco countered?
One thing was clear as could be last night. People are developing an appetite for conservation and they're wondering why governments and big business, which are supposed to be leading the charge, instead get in the way so much of the time.
"Take a look at night and you'll see building after building after building with all the lights on and production lines running continuously with no workers," complained Ken Bondy of the Canadian Auto Workers.
Brad Butt, representing the Greater Toronto Apartment Association, wondered why the government has not mandated individual water and hydro metering for apartments and condos, so people will cut their consumption or pay a premium for what they use.
The same governments that preach conservation have bylaws forbidding motion sensors, so lights in apartment stairwells must blaze all night. (How many do you suppose have energy-efficient bulbs?) "The fire and bylaw departments don't allow us to meet the culture of conservation," Butt said.
We have the technology to build more energy-efficient houses and fill them with much more energy-efficient water heaters, washing machines, fridges etc., but governments don't make it mandatory.
Several speakers congratulated Energy Minister Donna Cansfield, who was in the audience, for finally approving a process so that people who build energy efficient homes or businesses can sell power back to the general power grid. Talk about a no-brainer, yet it's hailed as a breakthrough.
It's interesting that the government's new Powerwise ad, which is very good, shows a little girl looking in wonder as the lights are progressively shut off, floor by floor, in a nearby high-rise building.
It's a nice symbol that cuts both ways. Yes, we should all work together, as the old song from Canned Heat which provides the soundtrack to the ad, says.
But maybe government and industry should hold up their side of the bargain by taking a lot of relatively simple steps that don't cost a lot and would show that the "culture of conservation" isn't just the latest marketing phrase.
Comments (3)
The problem as I see it is that we have a provincial Electricity Minister, not an Energy Minister. Electricity rates are massively subsidized and artificially low - compare to Europe, for example. As a result there is little incentive to conserve. On the other hand if the government were to raise rates they would be vilified. Compare that to increases in gasoline, natural gas, and oil where we all tend to accept that "market forces" are at work.
It can't last. One aspect of the Energy Predicament is that as oil and gas prices increase it becomes more advantageous to replace their use with fixed price electricity. There will be a point where, for example, it will be cheaper to heat with electricity than natural gas. That would put a huge strain on the already tight electricity supply. The only answers would be abrupt price increases or electricity rationing.
In Ontario and in Canada for that matter, we need some realistic thinking about our energy future.
Randy Park, EnergyPredicament.com
Posted by Randy Park | March 29, 2006 12:02 PM
Posted on March 29, 2006 12:02
More on Power and Energy
Today we received Tim Peterson's (MPP Mississauga South) latest householder complete with pages of his government's accomploshments, a questionnaire and an announcement of thre public meetings he plans to hold in the coming months. One deals with Energy and he is holding it at Lorne Park Secondary School... way out in the outskirts of Mississauga South ....
Has the MPP forgotten about the Greenfield South Project which is NOT in his Riding but affects most people in his riding? He should hold it closer to the people it affects...
As I wrote in an earlier comment IS ANYBODY UP THERE LISTENING ? Send this blog link to ten people and you will recieve good fortune!
Posted by Irene Gabon | March 1, 2006 1:10 PM
Posted on March 1, 2006 13:10
So much for the Public Consultation process especially on the subject of ENERGY.
WHY is it that about one week later we are being deluged with emails from the Ministry of Energy that each household will be getting a brochure from this Ministry asking for public input input into the directions the Ontario Government wants to travel regarding different types of energy... so all you good people out there, who have computers and want to read several hundred pages off the Energy website and which includes dozens of reports..... can you still have faith in this elected government. McGuinty promised to shut down coal fired plants and Lakeview was shut down in 2005. BUT One promise kept. BUT where is Plan B e.g. something to replace what was closed down.
I was amazed at Premier Ralph Klein who gave his annual State of Alberta address this past week on CPAC a travelogue about his vision for Alberta and which included CLEAN COAL PLANTS.....
Maybe McGuinty should go have a word or two with Ralph before he retires ....
Many reports from various agencies on the proposed Natural Gas Power Plant on Loreland Avenue a/k/a Greenfield South Project state that this type of Plant is not environmentally friendly, uses too much water, produces vapour which is hgeavier than air and will cause black ice....is proposed to be built near Coram Cr. homes, Queensway Hospital, Etobicoke Creek and still this Ontario government does not listen.... they still want more input. People out there... this is a STALL Tactic. We are at a disadvantage because we are not Environmental engineers but we know what we want and we don't want a power plant up on Loreland.. Did McGuinty look at alternatives like Wind,Solar,Nuclear.. Renewable energy from waste which is short lived but yet efficient...
And Energy Minister Donna Cansfield bringing forward a Bill to save energy... sure turn off the lights at Queen's Park, the fax machines and computers... Practice what you preach Minister.
. IS ANYBODY LISTENING UP THERE ON QUEEN'S PARK CIRCLE? The election is 15 months away.
Posted by Irene Gabon | February 23, 2006 4:33 PM
Posted on February 23, 2006 16:33