Friends of Arran Lake Wind Action Group
RR1 Southampton Ontario N0H 2L0
6 December, 2007
Dear Power Consumer:
While we all want our governments to do something about carbon
emissions and planetary warming, many of us believe that it is
important to consider the total impact of any project that claims
to benefit our society.
Until recently, many people believed that industrial wind turbines
could supply low cost, clean electricity for the grid. Currently
our Federal and Provincial Governments are paying a hefty premium
for wind produced energy as well as providing substantial tax
breaks and subsidies for wind farm developers. The rationale for
public investment in industrial wind energy rests on the assumption
that it can cut carbon emissions by replacing fossil-fuelled
generating capacity at the same time as providing a cheap source
of "renewable" electricity.
However, as you will see when reading through the attached report,
these assumptions are not based on actual operating experience with
wind. In fact, the most recent evidence, based on the last ten
years of wind power production in Europe, raises three awkward facts:
1. Because of the variable, unpredictable, and uncontrollable
nature of wind production, backup fossil-fuelled generation has to
be run simultaneously to stabilize the grid on an increasing scale
as more wind production is added. Ramping up and down of coal and
gas fired plants actually causes an increase in CO2 emissions.
2. When the cost of required backup production and subsidies
is calculated, industrial wind energy ends up costing consumers a
great deal more than conventional electricity production.
3. The shear numbers of wind turbine towers planned for rural
Ontario to produce even an insignificant amount of electricity for
the grid will have a negative impact on the environment through
migratory bird and bat destruction, devaluation of tourism
attraction and creation of rural industrial ghettos. At present
there are no regulations that would restrict undisciplined
development and leave intact our precious wildlife heritage.
We urge you to read this report and to share it with your friends
and colleagues. You can help to make these facts known publicly.
There is still time to save our beautiful countryside and to avoid
the unnecessary blight that has occurred in some parts of Europe
and the United States. Above all, our governments have a
responsibility to ensure that our money is spent with due regard
for economy and efficiency and that appropriate procedures are in
place to measure and report on the effectiveness of government
programs. As tax payers and electricity consumers, we have a right
to complain about this scandalous misuse of public funds to our
elected representatives. We urge you to make your voice heard on
this vital issue.
Yours sincerely,
Keith Stelling and the Friends of Arran Lake.
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