Ghiz comes under fire for wind energy development plan

CHARLOTTETON - The government's recently announced $1-billion plan for wind energy development came under fire during the opening question period of the fall sitting Wednesday when the Opposition accused the province of protecting Maritime Electric's bottom line over the interests of Islanders.
The government's 10-point plan for wind energy development was announced a few weeks ago with much ado. It seeks to grow the Island's wind energy production to 500 megawatts by 2013 and sets out a framework for wind energy projects, establishing ground rules for developers.
Through this plan, private developers will invest the $1 billion needed to achieve the province's wind energy objective.
But Opposition MLA Mike Currie accused the government of helping Maritime Electric in this deal by investing $4.7 million toward a new transmission line, which the utility is not paying for at all.
Suez Energy, which owns and operates the West Cape wind farm, will contribute the other $9.2 million needed for this line.
"You said you were going to look out for Islanders first, why are you worried about protecting the shareholders of Maritime Electric?" Currie asked in the house.
Premier Robert Ghiz aimed the spotlight back at Currie, however, when he said it was the previous administration's decision to do away with the former New Brunswick-plus-10 formula for electricity rates responsible for the currently rising costs to Islanders.
"It was that minister who was worried about protecting Maritime Electric instead of worrying about protecting Island ratepayers," Ghiz said, pointing to Currie.
Currie fired back, yelling and pointing fingers, asking Ghiz why he hasn't gone to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission to appeal for lower rates for Islanders.
But Ghiz didn't blink and eye and hammered away about how the former Binns government's decisions on the issue led to the current skyrocketing rate of electricity increases.
"They were more concerned at the time with talking about a pipeline - a pipe dream - that they were going to build coming from New Brunswick," Ghiz said.
"If the former government had worked with the government of New Brunswick, had went to Ottawa and looked for the dollars to get the second nuclear reactor built in New Brunswick, we wouldn't be in this situation that we are today."
The wind plan the province now has in place will help ease the pocket pains of Islanders when more wind energy is used locally, Ghiz added.
But Opposition Leader Olive Crane questioned why Islanders, especially those living in the wind development areas, were not consulted before this plan was prepared by government.
"How many meetings did your government hold for all Island residents to discuss the issues - you haven't attended any," Crane said.
At least 122 Islanders in western P.E.I. are feeling forced into accepting this project, despite their objections, she said. She tabled a petition signed by these residents in which they state a proposed new wind turbine development in their region poses a "serious threat to the future of West Prince."
She questions the fact that that private-sector companies are leading the charge on this development.
"This is simply not acceptable," she said. "There has to be certain principals to protect that particular community, and government has ignored their role in this."
Ghiz assured her no new wind farms will go ahead until a company that wants to build one garners community support for it