File photo.
Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. and its partner the Algonquins of the Pikwàkanagàn First Nation announced in a news release today, that they are stopping further development of the Nodinosi prospective wind project located near Mattawa.
“We strongly believe in a collaborative approach to project development, because social acceptability is essential to a successful project. The many concerns expressed by residents and local authorities have demonstrated that we do not have social acceptability for the Nodinosi project, nor the context to develop such a collaborative approach” said François Morin, Senior Advisor at Innergex.
“We will not pursue a project without the appropriate level of support of the community.”
See related story Mattawa wind farm opposition gaining momentum: http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=75019
The Nodinosi prospective wind project was located in the Townships of Phelps, Olrig and Mattawan of the Nipissing District.
Meanwhile, the decision to halt development of an industrial wind farm proposed for Mattawan Township is "a victory for all residents of Nipissing and hydro ratepayers all across Ontario," said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.
He told BayToday the fight in Mattawan "had that spark".
"It (the protest) had a little something extra that I haven't seen everywhere. You just had that feeling that, wow, I think we're gonna win. We made a very strong case, we got the people out, and we were building momentum."
“The Auditor General has clearly told us the subsidies paid to wind power developers in Ontario have literally cost us billions of dollars without actually increasing green energy."
Fedeli says wind power is simply unreliable, makes power mostly at night when we don’t need it, creating a surplus Ontario then has to get rid of by paying Quebec and the United States to take it, Fedeli added.
The Auditor General says the total cost of producing that exported power was about $2.6 billion more than the revenue Ontario received from exporting that power between 2006 and 2013.
Fedeli further noted the difference between the market price for power and the price paid to wind developers goes into the global adjustment, which the Auditor estimates has cost about $50 billion cumulative over the past decade.
“Is it any wonder Ontario now has the highest industrial rates in North America, and residential hydro bills are forecast to increase 42% by 2018 after peak hydro rates have already more than tripled since 2003?” asked Fedeli.
Innergex says it will continue to pursue the development of other prospective projects including one in Merrick Township near the North Bay airport.
