A proposal by the Ontario government to push offshore wind turbines 5 kilometres out from shore creates uncertainty for renewable electricity generators, says a spokesman for the wind industry.
"It’s a challenging situation when the playing field changes," said Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association.
"This represents in a change in the understanding of what’s going to be allowed. That creates a bit of uncertainty for everyone. It leads people to wonder: If this has happened now, will it happen again?"
He continued: "If investment’s going to come, it’s going to be important to have a strong and stable policy going forward. Maybe this consultation process will lead to that, and we intend to be active participants."
The Ontario government released a proposal on Friday that would exclude offshore wind turbines from locating within 5 kilometres of the shoreline. It has invited comment on the proposed limit.
The proposal spells trouble for a Toronto Hydro proposal to erect about 60 turbines in Lake Ontario stretching from the eastern part of the city to Ajax. The turbines would be located on a reef two to four kilometres offshore.
Hornung said other wind developers have also been scouting locations on the Great Lakes, most of them within 5 kilometres of shore.
Hornung said his group will participate in the consultations around the proposal.
"We’d like to get a better understanding of the rationale behind the 5 kilometre number," he said. "We’re presuming we’ll have an opportunity to explore those issues through the consultation process." Many U.S. states are considering offshore wind farms on the Great Lakes, Hornung said.
"We’d like to ensure that Ontario’s regulatory framework is one that allows Ontario to compete for those opportunities and investments."
Energy Minister Brad Duguid said last week that several U.S. states have set limits for offshore turbines, and Ontario’s proposal falls in the mid-range of those regimes.
