Last week, the provincial government
issued a directive to the Ontario Power Authority regarding the mixture of generation sources the agency should be aiming for. The directive drew notice for its commitment to both nuclear power and its renewed commitment to sustainable energy.
The
Canadian Wind Energy Association was among those who were quick to
welcome the directive. By their math, the directive should mean roughly $12.5 billion in new investment in the province in wind energy over the next seven years, and will create 12,500 jobs in construction and operations of wind farms.
Association president Robert Hornung said in a statement that if the province follows up its renewed commitment by quickly granting contracts under the province's feed-in-tariff program, it will shore up investor confidence in the region's sustainable energy industry. There are currently 700 wind turbines in Ontario now. The Association estimates that a typical 100W wind farm creates 100 construction period jobs and 33 full-time permanent positions.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Ulrike Kucera, CanWEA