Awaiting an alternative plan

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By EMC News

EMC Editorial - If Canada's current economic report card is more than a bit laid back and even mundane from a risk taker's point of view, one could look at the Canadian short term as the calm before the storm.

The agriculture sector seems to be fairly optimistic about their industry and the banking sector is holding its collective breath while the rest of the world trips over debt and confused economic strategies.

All of the different issues that have been in the news lately are taking their turn in the spotlight. One issue that probably can demand a bit more attention is energy and where we will get what we need for the future and how much will it cost.

In eastern Ontario, farmers are toying with the idea of setting up large solar panels. The idea of coming up with a self sustaining energy plan is obviously becoming the norm for area farmers.

Wind turbines, once touted as the answer to all of our energy ills, are spinning in limbo. There was a time when the agricultural energy experts saw the wind turbine as not only a source of inexpensive and renewable energy but also as more revenue for a farmer's bottom line. The turbines could redeem all the unusable wetlands on farmer's properties that cannot be used to produce much in the way of crops.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, (OFA) has waded in on the controversial topic of wind turbines on agricultural land, despite the temptation to believe that the giant windmills may be the answer to everyone's energy problems.

While urban residents south of Ottawa have been of two minds regarding wind turbines near their homes, farmers and the OFA have been quietly looking at the pros and cons of wind turbine use.

These slow economic times may be a blessing in disguise as rural Ontario takes a breath to think over the wind turbine issue.

In a recent note of caution from the OFA the province is asked to pay special attention to the developing tensions between rural residents and community neighbours regarding this alternative energy source.

The OFA wants issues such as health, pricing, the efficiency of wind power, setback issues and the loss of municipal input about industrial wind turbine projects to be placed on the table for discussion. The province is not about to run out of power in the foreseeable future but the OFA's request for resolution or at least a very loud argument about wind power may be just what the area needs to set the stage for what comes next.

It is time to make a plan.