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February 24, 2009 ( PowerHomeBiz ) -
Canada -
Ontario's new Green Energy Act will help people across Ontario become more
actively involved in the de-centralized production of green power and it
will help them save money on their energy bills.
(news continued below)
"It's power to the people" says Chris Winter, the Executive Director of
the Conservation Council of Ontario. "Right on!"
For the first time since the first energy crisis in the early 1970's,
Ontario is shifting the emphasis from centralized mega-projects to community
and green power projects. "We are finally seeing the transition to the
Conserver Society model first proposed over thirty-five years ago", Winter
observed.
The Conservation Council of Ontario welcomes the provisions in the Green
Energy Act for streamlined approvals and guaranteed access to the grid for
renewable power, strengthening the Building Code, improving conservation
support programs, and requiring municipal conservation plans. These are the
kinds of provincial tools that support the work the Council is already doing
to build a united voluntary conservation movement across Ontario.
Indeed, Winter notes that the Green Energy Act reinforces the need for a
strong voluntary sector and small business role in promoting conservation
and green power. "Green energy and conservation is all about local jobs and
services," he said. "Now more than ever we need to help shift Ontario to
more local economies that are more resilient, efficient, and healthier. "
"Let's be realistic", Winter said. "We are still a long way from the
solar age and conserver society, and over the next few years we will still
be facing the prospect of expensive and polluting mega-projects. But the
Green Energy Act has given us a new suite of tools to promote conservation
and renewable power, and it is a strong signal that Ontario is moving
towards an efficient energy system, with an emphasis on distributed
generation, renewable power, and conservation."
Winter praised the Premier for his strong stand on renewable power and
progress on the coal phaseout, and the Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy
and Infrastructure, George Smitherman, who appears to be on a mission to
make Ontario the North American the clear leader in renewable power and
conservation.
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CONTACT:
Chris Winter, Executive Director 416-533-1635 ext 1, cell: 647-393-5000
The Conservation Council of Ontario is a provincial association of
organizations and conservation leaders working to facilitate the transition
to a conserver society and a conserver economy in Ontario. Visit
www.weconserve.ca for more
information.
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