Winnipeg Consensus on clean energy policy
The overwhelming re-election of Alison Redford as Premier of Alberta last week has given a boost to the clean energy policy ambitions of the Winnipeg Consensus. The Consensus was launched by a group of...
View ArticleReinventing Fire: Amory Lovins
Reinventing Fire is Amory Lovins’ new TED talk on a smart 50 year energy plan. He shows how the US (and Canada) can choose to save $5 trillion, improve national security, increase jobs, reduce carbon...
View ArticleWaterpower is not always green
I’ve supported renewable energy for more than 30 years, even before my years as legal counsel for the Ministry of Energy. And I’m a strong supporter of the Green Energy Act. But every type of energy...
View ArticleECO on Green Energy Act and Conservation
The prolific Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has issued his Annual Energy Conservation Progress Report for 2011 under the Green Energy Act, and he isn’t very impressed. The Green Energy Act has...
View ArticleHealth, wind, science, and our sad federal priorities
What does it say about our national priorities that our government won’t fund world class environmental research into the harm done by acid rain and climate change, has slashed Parks Canada...
View ArticleDutch wind turbine noise study: strong link between money and annoyance
Health Canada’s wind turbine health study is doomed to irrelevance, because is largely based on asking people whether they are annoyed about wind turbines. With this methodology, Health Canada could...
View ArticleMassachusetts expert panel on wind and health recommends comparing all energy...
Environmental science research is desperately needed on many fronts, including on how we can adapt to the galloping pace of climate change. The 17 major studies that have already been done on...
View ArticleNarrow candidates for permit by rule: waste, solar, printing
The latest draft Approvals Reform regulations are another small step in the right direction. Clarifying and simplifying the requirements for routine, low impact activities, and reducing regulatory...
View ArticleHow safe is natural gas?
No source of energy is “safe”, i.e. has zero adverse effects. We are frequently consulted by people who have had their lives turned upside down by oil spills, some recent, some decades ago. Often,...
View ArticleEnvironmental Review Tribunal appeal notices must be complete
The Environmental Review Tribunal has dismissed an anti-wind appeal, because the neighbours opposed to the project did not file a proper notice of appeal: Ball v. Director. Several appeals were also...
View ArticleOrganizing Renewable Energy Community Power Projects
This Friday, September 28, the Climate Change Lawyers Network (CCLN) will be hosting a session for anyone interested in the encouraging renewable energy community power projects. Presented in...
View ArticleCommunity solar bonds available
SolarShare is launching a new campaign in response to the recently changed Feed-in Tariff requirements. There is a short window of opportunity to lead Ontario to a clean energy future by securing new...
View ArticleAn introduction to the law of noise pollution
Dianne gave a well received introduction to the law of noise pollution at the Ontario Bar Association’s Halloween breakfast. Topics included what is noise, who regulates it, how the Environmental...
View ArticleSector registration mandatory for solar, printing and waste haulers from...
Congratulations to the Approvals Reform team: The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has brought three new sectors into its Environmental Activity and Sector Registry Regulations under the...
View ArticleRenewable Energy Approvals regulations amended again
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has made more amendments to O. Reg. 359/09, the Renewable Energy Approvals Regulation. As a result of concerns raised during the last round of amendments (July...
View ArticleWaterpower projects can’t be reviewed because they don’t get review?
The Environmental Review Tribunal has refused to hear an application for leave to appeal from a permit to take water for a waterpower project that will flood aboriginal burial sites: Napash v Director....
View ArticleAustralian Parliament Senate rejects anti-wind bill, notes nocebo effect
An Australian Senate Committee has issued its report recommending rejection of an anti-wind private members bill, the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Excessive Noise from Wind Farms) Bill...
View ArticleHoliday gifts: reduce carbon footprint and build peace?
Dear friends and faithful readers, Here are two ideas for easy holiday gifts that make the world a better place: a local option, and one in the Middle East. (We have no financial stake in either.) The...
View ArticleRenewable Fuels requirements watered down
Environment Canada announced over the holidays that it will water down renewable fuels requirements in the 2010 Renewable Fuels Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Home heating...
View ArticleEnergy transparency in Ontario public schools, a small step in the right...
Congratulations to Gord Miller, Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner. Hours after he chided the province for concealing energy consumption information in public buildings, the province announced that...
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