Where is the passion for renewable energy?

Wolfe Erlichman | Jul 20, 2016

I recently became aware of a campaign to stop the refurbishment of the hydro-electric facility on the Mississippi River in Almonte. I was struck by the passion shown by the opponents of this project. It is similar to the passion shown by opponents of wind projects in North Frontenac and adjacent municipalities as well as solar projects elsewhere. Often, people who are opposed to these projects are also very concerned about the environment and global warming. However, I am not aware of them passionately supporting renewable energy projects, which would help prevent global warming. How can we explain this passion against something but no passion in favour of something, especially when we have been told that global warming will have huge negative impacts on our children and grandchildren? Perhaps the projects being opposed are so bad that it is easy to be passionate about opposing them while there are no renewable projects that are so good that they excite people.

It has been suggested that community ownership of such projects might make people see them in a more positive light since community ownership would allow local residents to have more control over these projects and to benefit financially from them. All too often, in the present system, large companies (often foreign) or rich individuals get all the profits. How would community ownership work? There are different possibilities: municipalities, local utilities, or community groups such as co-operatives could own the projects. The provincial government is thinking about starting a green bank to help such groups finance large projects. Municipal ownership of large projects could have a significant impact on the financial health of municipalities as well as providing investment opportunities for individuals. If this model of renewable energy development was a success, then perhaps we would see passionate support for renewable energy projects instead of passionate opposition.