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Proposed Act would create significant uncertainty, put local jobs and investments at risk

Ottawa, Ontario - November 29, 2011 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) opposes Private Members Bill 10 which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly yesterday and proposes to restore municipal bylaw and planning authority as it pertains to clean energy projects. While CanWEA is committed to exploring potential mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of municipal engagement in such projects as part of the current Feed-in-Tariff program review, the association believes that proposals to change existing legislation will create significant policy uncertainty at a time when investors are seeking stable, long-term policy frameworks to support wind energy development.

"While the Green Energy Act (GEA) has very specific requirements for consultations with municipalities, we acknowledge that opportunities exist to strengthen the process under the GEA," said CanWEA President Robert Hornung. "Bill 10, however, would create significant policy uncertainty. The wind energy industry wants to work productively with all levels of government to ensure the jobs and investments continue flowing into rural communities across Ontario."

CanWEA believes municipalities have a vital role to play in any new local development, and has always encouraged municipal governments to take full advantage of all opportunities for engagement under the GEA. Consistent with its mandate to support the responsible and sustainable development of wind energy in Canada, CanWEA has developed and promotes Best Practices for Community Engagement and Public Consultation – which were informed through discussions with dozens of municipal leaders across Ontario.

"This Private Members Bill appears to take a unilateral approach to what is currently a more collaborative process as a fulsome review of the Feed-in-Tariff program takes place. Adoption of this act would create significant policy uncertainty. The wind energy industry wants to work productively with all levels of government to ensure the jobs and investments continue flowing into rural communities across Ontario."

In addition to 2,125 MW of signed contracts in place today, applications have already been made for an additional 6,672 MW of wind energy development in Ontario. Ontario is Canada's wind energy leader with 1,755 MW of current installed capacity, attracting millions in new investments from around the world.

Each 100 MW of wind energy development represents a minimum of 100 jobs, $250 million in private investment, and $300,000 in revenue to municipal governments in the form of taxes and an equal amount to rural landowners in the form of lease payments. Each 100 MW of wind energy also provides Ontarians with enough clean, affordable electricity to power about 30,000 homes.

CanWEA is the voice of Canada's wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy on behalf of its more than 420 members. A national non-profit association, CanWEA serves as Canada's leading source of credible information about wind energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits. To join other global leaders in the wind energy industry, CanWEA believes Canada can and must reach its target of producing 20 per cent or more of the country's electricity from wind by 2025. The document Wind Vision 2025 - Powering Canada's Future is available at www.canwea.ca.

For more information, please contact:
Ulrike Kucera, Media Relations Officer – 613 867 4433 (mobile)