Conservative wind moratorium blocks local decision making

Conservative Lisa Thompson’s proposal for a moratorium on wind undermines local decision making by denying communities the choice of supporting wind energy.

The GPO calls on MPPs to support local decision making by opposing this bill.

“Conservatives are talking out of both sides of their mouths with their efforts to kill green energy,” says Mike Schreiner, leader of the GPO. “A moratorium on wind denies communities the opportunity to support wind energy in ways that benefit the local economy. A moratorium that takes away choice from communities flies in the face of Conservative rhetoric around local decision making.”

The GPO rejects the false choice between the Conservative’s efforts to kill green energy and the Liberal approach of imposing corporate wind on communities without local participation. Unlike the old parties, the Green Party’s energy plan invests in Ontario communities first. The GPO supports a community-based energy policy that requires local ownership, local decision and local benefits.

“The Conservatives short sighted, politically expedient efforts to kill green energy will hurt our economy and set Ontario back a generation,” says Schreiner. “Ontario needs a long term energy plan that includes wind and other renewables, and prioritizes opportunities for local participation and benefits.”

Arguments Against Energy Choices

Nuremberg, Germany/Nurnberg, De

Oct. 14th, 2010. 1:20 pm, local time or 7:20 am EST.

We are on the Deutschebahn ICE train headed to Nuremberg. We left the very large and impressive Frankfurt main station at 12:54, much later than we had expected due to us  sleeping much later than expected, but we are feeling refreshed and looking forward to seeing the rebuilt medievil city of Nuremberg and the museum at the old Nazi Party Congress Hall.

David tried to find a hotel here about a month ago with no luck, it seems there is some large convention in town or something like that, so we are doing a day trip by train. Tonight we will return to Frankfurt and then tomorrow night we take another train (or several different trains to be precise) to Krakow, Poland.

Green Germany

We just passed a large array of wind turbines, which are huge, much bigger than any I've seen.  I saw a field full of turbines when we were decending on the plane, I wonder if these are the same ones?

They are several kilometres away and tower above anything around. We aslo saw a large field packed with a solar array, but I didn't get a picture of it. It is very common to see homes covered with solar panels as the government here will buy your extra electricity, as they do back in Ontario.

Here's a few more pictures, there will be some of us to come, stay tuned!

 

Hillside wind turbines, between Frankfurt and Nuremberg, Germany.

This is what passes for a double in Europe. Oh well, as long as my sweetie is with me, I'm happy!

The view from our Franfurt hotel room.