YOUNGER: MINISTER OF ENERGY ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH
Date: Friday January 8, 2010

(Halifax, NS) Liberal MLA and energy critic Andrew Younger says the NDP government and the Energy Minister aren’t providing the leadership that the province’s renewable energy future requires.

“It is alarming to learn that Minister Estabrooks only became aware of Nova Scotia Power’s decision to impose fines on independent wind producers when he read it in the morning newspaper - that’s completely unacceptable,” says Younger. “Nova Scotians would expect the minister to review all implications of his changes to deadlines in the renewable energy strategy prior to making them. In this case, the minister simply hoped for the best.”

Younger says the NDP government is making the same mistakes as the previous Tory government when it comes to renewable energy. He says many of the current issues could have been dealt with by a change in how renewable energy suppliers access the grid.

“This government, just like the previous government, has refused to move forward with a renewable-to-retail policy for energy suppliers. This was recommended by government and by independent studies,” said the Liberal MLA for Dartmouth East. “Instead, we have renewable energy producers in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island selling direct to Nova Scotia consumers.”

Younger has introduced a bill in the House to permit renewable-to-retail and open the market up to independent producers.

“Our province has the potential to be a major centre for renewable energies, offering clean power at a stable price to residents and businesses across Nova Scotia and the world. Tapping into that potential requires the attention and stewardship of an actively engaged government - we’re not seeing that from this minister."

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