In his June 28th column, Lorrie Goldstein focused on the ‘cozy relationships‘ involved in the Green Movement. Specifically he was referring to Tom Adams’ YouTube video “Green Energy Act Paradox”.
Lorrie summarizes Tom Adams’ observations:
…He describes the “cosy relationship” that exists among governments that want power, energy companies that want profits and environmental organizations that want more renewable energy, but also consulting fees and government funding.
The way it works is governments hand out money to environmental organizations, who consult with and for energy companies, who together advise the government on what green energy laws should look like, and who then praise the government — ad nauseam — for the legislation they helped design when the government unveils it.
And who are the losers in this neat little drama, you ask?
Why, the public, of course, who are increasingly being presented with so-called “green” legislation in which all the key decisions have been made behind closed doors, long before the so-called public consultations begin…
Adams and Goldstein aren’t the only ones noticing this symbiotic relationship.
Back in early March, Terence Corcoran exposed the same bed partners:
Who’s pushing for all this? Not the people. The major backers of green power tax-and-grab regimes are hundreds of businesses that stand to collect billions in subsidies and tax benefits from solar, wind and other alternative energy forms.
Business groups, with major lobbying and legal backing, are in cahoots with green activists, who, in turn, are sleeping with government bureaucrats and politicians.
Let’s follow some money. There’s the Ontario Green Energy Act Alliance, the major lobbying effort behind the new green police state. It self-describes its origins: “The Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA), together with other leading trade associations, environmental groups, First Nations, developers, manufacturers, farmers and landowners, is initiating a campaign to create the Ontario Green Energy Act.”
( . . . )
…In summary, the Ontario government pays millions of dollars to environmental activists and corporate interests to lobby the Ontario government and agitate for the Green Energy Act, which act serves the interests of the agitators…
Smells a little, doesn’t it?
Meanwhile the consultation process has been ongoing regarding wind turbines with varying degrees of success and satisfaction, for example in Port Elgin and Toronto. Feedback will be accepted until July 24, 2009.
This is one of those areas where Joe Blow taxpayer might not get too excited until those wind turbines begin to negatively affect his property or health.
However we should all be concerned about these reports of cozy backscratching going on behind the scenes, with hands reaching deep into our pockets.
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Tuesday Update: Springer just brought a very important article to my attention. Check it out at his blog: The truth about global warming is out there…
Smitherman rolls dice on new nuke deal – Sun Editorial:
…Ontario’s original time line to complete the new Darlington reactors by 2018 — keeping nuclear power at its current level of supplying 50% of the province’s electricity, albeit more reliably than it does at present — was wildly optimistic.
And despite denials yesterday, the longer it takes to build the new nukes, the longer it will take to close Ontario’s coal-fired energy plants, which the province has promised to do by 2014.
Nuke plants, unlike coal, don’t emit greenhouse gases or air pollution.
But they do produce nuclear waste and are fiercely opposed by the same environmental groups Premier Dalton McGuinty has been relying on to sell Ontarians on expensive wind energy and industrial wind farms...
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Plastic-bag initiative fails to catch on – Post:
…The fees should not be allowed to “hide behind a green mask,” said Michael Flavell, a senior Ottawa-based trade and competition lawyer.
“This is a complex area that should be examined carefully,” Mr. Flavell stated. “The Competition Bureau must not hesitate to delve into the details of new ‘green’ initiatives to uncover their true intentions and consequences, and ensure they are not masking anti-competitive manoeuvres.”
A spokeswoman for the federal Competition Bureau responded to questions about the bylaw by saying only that “we are aware of the issue,” and said she could not comment further…
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Speaking of the environment:
…Govind Rao of the Friends of Christie Pits told ctvtoronto.ca on Monday that his group sent an inquiry about what chemicals are being used to control insects and vermin at the temporary dump sites, one of which is in a hockey rink at Christie Pits, which is north of Bloor Street West and west of Christie Street…
But I thought McGuinty banned pesticides???
