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Ontario’s Nascent New Energy Push Threatened

June 3, 2011

IBEW members throughout Ontario are criticizing recent statements by Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak that he would kill the province’s Green Energy Act should he become premier in this fall’s election. The bill has been credited for boosting both the construction and manufacturing sectors, putting thousands of electricians and other tradesmen to work.

Says John Grimshaw, executive secretary of the IBEW’s Construction Council of Ontario:

The Green Energy Act and the feed-in-tariff program have been drivers that have resulted in several million person-hours of construction work directly related to green energy projects across Ontario.

The legislation, which was passed by Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government last year, promotes investment in alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydropower to reduce the province’s carbon footprint.

Key to the act’s success has been its “feed-in-tariff” program, which guarantees a stable rate of return for renewable energy providers from public utilities, along with domestic content regulations that require that a majority of green energy components be produced in Ontario.

Says Windsor Local 773 Business Manager Sol Furer:

At a time when many traditional manufacturing and related jobs were disappearing, these green energy jobs emerged to help put our skilled trades people and apprentices to work.

Hudak went as far as to claim that the thousands of construction positions created by the bill weren’t “real” jobs.

The Tories’ threats are already causing concern among solar panel manufacturers. The Windsor Star reports on one company that stands to lose up to $4 million in sales because of uncertainty over the future of the feed-in-tariff program.

The chief executive told the Star:

We have been able to provide work for employees laid off as a result of the auto slowdown and it makes no sense to now create another slowdown.

The first Ontario general election in four years is scheduled for October and the IBEW has made defending the Green Energy Act one its top priorities.

Furer told the Windsor Star at the opening of a 10-megawatt photovoltaic unit at the local’s hall:

This solar project is a symbol of what good policy can do. It’s good for the environment, acts as an economic driver and provides opportunities for youth to enter into apprenticeships in the construction industry.

Click to here to read more about the upcoming Ontario election.