Ontario's Negative Wind Policy

Ontario's Negative Wind Policy

It's one thing for Ontario's wind turbine owners to be paid extravagantly for the electricity they produce, but it's quite another for them to be paid not to produce electricity. But that's what's happening. As of Wednesday, Ontario has been paying its wind generators not to produce electricity. The government says the deal will actually save money, because the turbine operators will halt production when the province's electricity system is in surplus.

Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli says turbine operators will be paid reduced rates not to produce electricity, a deal that should save about $200 million a year.

It sounds like a Monty Python sketch, but the problem is electricity generated at these volumes can't be stored.

Not only have wind turbine companies been handed generous contracts to generate electricity, contracts that are arguably unsustainable, now they're going to be paid not to produce power.

The deal also calls into question an oft-mentioned criticism: That the wind-energy industry isn't dependable within a peak demand period.

What's certain is we shouldn't be paying any company or contractor not to provide the service or commodity they were contracted to provide. Only the Liberal Government would think this is a good deal.