Manitoba has been blessed with an abundance of fresh water. We have been able to harness the power of many of these powerful rivers up north to make us a leader in renewable and clean energy.
Mega-dam projects were once the most efficient and profitable way to produce clean, renewable energy. Unfortunately, the NDP still believe that this is the way to build a profitable publicly owned Manitoba Hydro. Under the leadership of the NDP, Manitoba Hydro has been saddled with unsustainable levels of debt which has caused rate hikes for Manitobans.These large scale projects mega-projects reliant on spot priced export contracts are a very risky gamble for the future our crown corporation.
Manitoba's energy production must shift with the technology and the times. Mega-dams are yesterday's technology. We must move towards small to medium scale locally based energy production. This means we need to encourage citizens, businesses and city to become energy self reliant. To do this we must encourage the development of small and medium scale solar, biomass and wind energy projects.
Manitoba Hydro's is perfectly placed to act as a driver of this energy strategy shift.
The Green Legacy Program
Through a two pronged program it can encouraged the small to medium scale production of energy by Manitobans for Manitobans.
The Green Legacy Program would include:
- A Green Manitoba Hydro Bonds Campaign that would offer low-cost capitals to individuals and corporations who wish to purchase qualified renewable energy producing technology.
- A Standard offer sheet program similar to British Columbia's for buying back power produced by these small and medium scale energy projects.
This program would create incentives for investments in clean technology while avoiding the rate hike pressures of a feed-in-tarrif, as is currently being seen in Ontario.
The Green Legacy Program would ensure a viable, sustainable, publicly owned crown corporation for generations of Manitobans to come.
I would get behind that.
ReplyDelete