JIGS HOLLOW PIT & BIOFUEL LETTER

Yesterday's Elmira Independent isn't on-line quite yet but I will try to put a link to it when it is. They have one story titled "Woolwich Township seeks consolidation of OMB cases" which is about the Jigs Hollow Pit (Kuntz) nearest Winterbourne. They also have an Opinion piece by Michael Purves-Smith titled "What is wrong with the Green Energy Act". Sometimes citizens can be fooled simply by the title of a piece of legislation and I am no exception. Well Michael's analysis of this particular piece of legislation is an eye opener.

Regarding the Jigs Hollow Pit, the Township have sent a resolution to the Ministry of Natural Resources asking them to refer the Aggregate Resources Act application for the pit to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). As there is already an appeal of this pit under the Planning Act before the OMB, essentially this would put two issues before the same Board at the same time. I must admit that I'm not really clear as to why the MNR application is problematic but if indeed the township's purpose is to consolidate two potential hearings into one, that does seem to make sense. Also there is mediation involved with the Jigs Hollow Pit which may or may not scope outstanding issues prior to the hearing. Best of luck to Lynne and Jan and all the other volunteers fighting to protect Woolwich Township .

Firstly Michael Purves-Smith differentiates between other forms of renewable energy such as wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal. Trucks and trucking are not part of their equation. Unfortunately with non farm Biomass, trucking is a huge issue. The proposed Elmira plant cannot operate without a steady stream of trucked in garbage. Quoting Michael "It is a travesty to ignore that fact. A ton of waste from London would use about as much energy as could be produced from the biomass, not to mention the damage caused by traffic congestion and the heavy toll of carbon emissions involved in both the transport and the decomposition of the gartbage.". If as seems reasonable by Michael's arguments that in fact this whole process is simply a hidden taxpayer subsidy to a few investers and that there is no true gain in energy production for the rest of us, then this renewable enrgy act is a sham. If this plant isn't even close to being financially viable without inflated electicity rates being paid to it and it causes increased emissions of exhaust fumes, then what the hell are we doing this for. Oh yes, for financial gain of a few investers to the detriment of the rest of us. Is this the real purpose of government? Screw the majority in order to continue the priveleges of the few?