Ontario's Long-Term Energy Plan Must Support Efforts to Address Climate Change: Environmental Commissioner

Wind energy well positioned to play a greater role in helping to address Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions

OTTAWA, June 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Wind energy has helped Ontario make real progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector, according to a progress report released today by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario that reviews Ontario's progress in reducing GHG emissions. But that progress is threatened over time by significant increases in the use of natural gas to generate electricity, according to "Failing our Future", Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller's 2013 annual report on the progress made in working towards GHG reduction targets outlined in the government's Climate Change Action Plan.

Wind energy has played an important role in reducing GHG gas emissions in Ontario by helping to facilitate the phase out of coal-fired generation in the province. As a non-GHG emitting source of electricity, wind energy has the potential to play an important role in further reducing Ontario's GHG emissions going forward.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) will be an active participant in upcoming consultations to review and update Ontario's long-term energy plan and will advocate for further growth of wind energy in the province. Wind energy has not only been helping the province on the environmental front, it has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits to local communities, provided new opportunities for the manufacturing sector, and created good jobs for graduates of post-secondary renewable energy programs.

"Ontario's long-term energy plan will need to continue to make GHG emission reductions a priority and wind energy is well positioned to make a significant and cost-effective contribution to climate change mitigation efforts," says Robert Hornung, CanWEA President.

For more information on wind energy's environmental benefits, visit: www.windfacts.ca

About the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)

CanWEA is the voice of Canada's wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy on behalf of its members. A national non-profit association, CanWEA serves as Canada's leading source of credible information about wind energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits. In order for Canada to be a world leader in the production of clean wind energy, CanWEA believes we can and must reach a target of producing 20 per cent or more of our electricity from wind by 2025. The document WindVision 2025 - Powering Canada's Future is available at www.canwea.ca.

SOURCE: CANADIAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION

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