HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-06, Page 2928 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, November 6, 2013
ADVERTISEMENT
M.ind
Farm
Gord Potts
Director Business Development
and Project Manager
Grand Bend Wind Farm for
Northland Power Inc.
New scientific
evidence proves
that wind energy
is a very efficient
way of reducing
carbon dioxide
emissions.
�=•
nity News
http: //grandbend,northlandpower.ca
Dispelling Wind Myths - How Wind Power
is reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Did you know that so far this year Ontario has only issued two smog
advisories?That's a significant drop from 2007 when there were 39
in total, and from the S3 reported in 2005.' Such progress is a direct
result of promoting and creating a healthier environment and cleaner
air through sustained policies and practices that individuals, commu-
nities and businesses can all take part in. The Ministry of the Environ-
ment explained that the drop in smog days is a direct correlation to a
reduction in smog -causing pollutants. "In the last several years, we've
seen a 27% reduction in fine particulate matter, as well as a 37% reduc-
tion in nitrogen dioxide,"explained MOE spokesperson Kate Jordan.'
Two major contributing factors of this decline in emissions include the
provinces move to shut -down all coal power plants, coupled with a
drive to promote renewable energy sources, including wind. According
to the Government of Ontario. from 2000 to 2010, air quality improved
province -wide in Ontario, and the phasing out of coal plants was a key
reason. And the province is currently on track to close all coal plants by
the end of 2013. A coal -free energy mix will... lead to a significant re-
duction in harmful emissions, cleaner air and a healthier environment.''
As a recent online article out of Yale University pointed out;
"Weaning economies off of coal...is no small feat. In 2003, Ontario
generated 7,5oo megawatts of coal-fired electricity, a quarter of its
power supply. Ontario's coal consumption peaked that year at 18.6
million metric tons. Coal-fired power plants were Ontario's largest
source of toxic chemical, heavy metal, sulfur, and nitrogen air pollu-
tion. Carbon emissions from coal-fired generation had risen to more
than 41 million metric tons annually."' One of the key ingredients
the province adopted into their environmentally friendly plan was
to develop, integrate and promote renewable energy projects within
the province; including projects like our Grand Bend Wind Farm.
One myth which persists about wind power is that because "turbines
produce electricity only intermittently"'; and fossil fuels have to be
burnt to provide a reliable back-up supply of electricity, wind power's
overall benefit to the environment is minimized.' A recent report out
of Spain provides scientific evidence, based on extensive research,
that demonstrates conclusively that this is a myth. In fact, wind en-
ergy is a "very efficient way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions...
Intelligent energy for a greener planet
by Gord Potts
even if wind produced as much as 5o percent of Spain's electric-
ity the CO2 savings would still be 8o percent of the emissions that
would have been produced by the displaced thermal power sta-
tions.'' The report concludes that "Renewable energy is capable of
replacing fossil fuels and of reducing emissions dramatically."'
Canada's Rote in Reducing Emissions and
Diversifying our Energy Portfolios
Here at home, the Environmental Registry states "Greenhouse gases
that cause climate change are a threat to the health of Ontarians,
the environment and the sustainability of the economy. To address
this serious problem, Ontario introduced its Climate Change Action
Plan in 2007...with reduction targets airning for 8o% below 1990
levels by 2o5o."9 Shutting down all coal -burning power plants is
a significant step in the direction of lowering our carbon dioxide
emissions and combating global warming. However, given the
understanding that humans are the key to both emission causes
and reduction, we must ask ourselves; how much more can we do,
not just for ourselves, but for our future generations? I look forward
to working with the community to make Grand Bend a producer
of clean, renewable wind power, and to ensuring the sustainability
of this great community for many years to come. To that end, I am
always available to answer your questions or listen to your concerns
— please contact me at grandbendenorthlandpower.ca.
r hrtp://www. thestar.com/news/Canada/aos r/of/t4/ontarios_air_getting_clean-
er_report_says.html
http://www.theobserver.ca/aos3/o8/jo/only-two-smog-advisories-in-ontario-in-
ros3-so-far
3 http://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2ot3/to/crearing-charter-air•in-ontaria.html
4 http://e36o.vale.edu/feature/how_ontario is putting .m end to .t oal bum
ing_ power _plants/1635/
5 Ibid.. 6 /bid.
7 http://1wvw.scientificamerican.con,/article.cfm?idawind•powei-proves-
effective-corsaverEutm_source••feedburnrrf,utm medium akedtrutm_
campaign teed%3A•sciam%aFenergy-technology•(Topic%3A•EnergyrTechnology)
8 Ibid.
9 http://www.ebrgov.on.ca/fRS-WfB-£xtemal/displaynoricecontent.do?notkeld"
MT£4MrMyttsratusld.MTc3MD85
Northland Power is an Ontario -based company with over 25 years experience developing,
owning and operating facilities that produce and sell clean and green energy
NORTHLAND
POWWR