Fighting Misinformation and Fear-Mongering with Facts

Two leading Canadian pro-wind groups, Environmental Defence and The Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA), joined forces to bust myths and fight back against the misinformation being promoted by anti-wind activists around Ontario in a new report released today.

Blowing Smoke: Correcting Anti-Wind Myths in Ontario is a well-done piece. It is intentionally Ontario-centric but delivers useful information to anyone, anywhere about the realities of wind energy—especially helpful for conversations with skeptics.

“There is a tremendous amount of fear-mongering going on right now about wind power in Ontario,” said Adam Scott, Green Energy Program Manager, Environmental Defence. “This report aims to introduce some real facts into the debate so that communities can make well informed decisions about wind projects.”

“Communities must be better integrated into the management and benefits of wind power projects,” said Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association. “Ultimately, community acceptance will determine whether or not Ontario remains a leader in clean energy, or whether we let other jurisdictions take the investment and jobs away from us.”

The new report was released—perhaps cleverly—on the same day that well-known anti-wind activist John Laforet, President of Wind Concerns Ontario, is slated to speak at the Empire Club in Toronto.

LaForet’s talk is titled Wind Generated Controversy: The financial, legal, and political consequences of Ontario’s Green Energy Act. LaForet knows a bit about political consequences. He lost his bid for Toronto City Council in 2010—from his home ward—garnering only 29% of the votes.

LaForet is a “pull no punches” outspoken wind energy foe. This excerpt from his blog will give you a feel for his opinion of pro-wind forces in Ontario:

Because Environmental Defense, the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, Canadian Wind Energy Association and the other ‘Wind Welfare’ recipients who formed the ‘save wind welfare’ orgy of special interests – comeclean.ca are no longer relevant to the conversation. They have no credibility left, because their claims aren’t believable. They are now a parody of themselves. Fodder for laughter. Walking, talking lampoons.

Loud and clear, John. Those pro-wind groups are not the only enemies of these anti-wind activists though. LaForet’s Wind Concerns Ontario group doesn’t appear to care much for environmentalist groups either.

Yesterday, they came out against Sierra Club Canada. Here’s an excerpt from the I once believed in the Sierra Club blog post on the group’s website:

I once believed in the Sierra Club, until the club (bunch of Sierra Club like activists who aren’t looking at the entire picture but only at their own agendas) started fully supporting the Green Energy Act. The Green Energy Act and the PM government is placing turbines everywhere and anywhere.

The groups characterized as “Wind Welfare” recipients appear more genuinely concerned with the welfare of Ontario than the name callers are.

This report is just one more step, with a positive tone and an objective approach, in that direction. Here’s an excerpt from the opening page that will give you a feel for its goal:

This report aims to correct the main myths of the anti-wind activists, using credible scientific, mainstream sources to counter the collection of unfounded and unproven opinions promoted by those with only one agenda, to stop wind power.

Whether you live in a local community with a wind power project, are a member of a local council, are a member of the media or are simply an interested party, we hope you will take the time to research the issues for yourself so that you can come to your own informed opinion. Our future depends on getting it right.

We highly recommend Blowing Smoke: Correcting Anti-Wind Myths in Ontario and are confident that you will enjoy it.

Kudos to the authors—keep fighting the good fight.