25 new large-scale renewable energy projects are making their way to Southwestern Ontario.
Energy Minister Brad Duguid and Huron Bruce Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell made the announcement on Monday — confirming the projects will be located along the Bruce to Milton Transmission Line.
The communities include Seaforth, Zurich, Tiverton, Paisley, Woodstock, and Strathroy.
Duguid tells Bayshore Broadcasting News 19 of the projects will be wind energy and six will be solar.
Duguid tells us the McGuinty government is wanting to build a better tomorrow for families down the road.
He notes introducing more wind and solar projects will provide our children and grandchildren with cleaner air.
Duguid tells us they hope to replace all dirty coal energy sources but notes there are some risks Ontario families face in the near future.
He says opposition Leader Tim Hudak and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath are out to ruin Ontario.
Duguid tells us both leaders are against clean energy and would destroy all jobs the McGuinty government is creating.
Huron – Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell tells Bayshore Broadcasting News she sees many opportunities in renewable energy for her farmers.
She says farmers are struggling with crops to give them a sustainable income.
Mitchell notes the 25 new wind and solar projects will allow farmers to plan for the future.
She calls wind and solar energy a large demand.
Mitchell says when you drive down roads you see a solar panel on every other farm.
Mitchell adds clean energy is her biggest priority.
She tells us the amount of emergency visits to the hospital for children with asthma has dropped dramatically.
Economically – Mitchell says wind and solar energy has created many construction jobs for Ontario families.
Jutta Splettstoesser with Friends of Wind applauds the McGuinty government.
She says every megawatt produced by clean energy reduces the need to burn fossil fuels and CO2 emissions.
Splettstoesser says she will launch an educational tour for the end of July and go across Ontario until September.
She hopes the province will learn to be more open minded towards clean energy.
The amount of energy to be generated by these 25 projects is enough electricity to power 900 thousand homes each year.
The Green Energy Act is on track to create 50 thousand clean energy jobs by the end of 2012 — with over 13 thousand new jobs.
