Energy Entrepreneur – We can be one!
In the Saturday, October 21, 2006, Ralph Sureette, or Yarmouth based environmental columnist wrote about a real solution to our energy demands and ever rising costs. The basic approach – decentralize energy production and order the utility company to buy power from all sources available. This has just been done in Ontario. Starting in November 2006, Ontario utilities must pay homeowners or businesses for any electricy they generate from small solar, wind, water or other renewable sources. We could do that here in Nova Scotia.
Like most of the population, I am on the grid. It is convenient and reliable. However, where I live it is pretty windy much of the year. Given the opportunity, I would invest in a wind drive power generator to feed energy back into the system. In effect, when I am using energy I pay NSP; when I am not, and the wind is blowing, the meter runs in reverse. NSP gets power back; I get a lower utility bill.
With thousands of businesses and individuals on such a system NSP could reduce their reliance on coal, thereby producing cleaner air and still having a reliable supply of engery. In addition, people in the province would be producing their own supply reducing our dependence on out of province sources. Jobs would be created in the renewable energy resource sector.
What stands in the way of such a good idea? As usual, NSP is a private monopoly, our energy minister Bill Dooks is part of the system that has difficulty dealing with new ideas and innovation. He basically supports NSP’s monopoly on energy generation and shareholder over public interest.
With Ontario taking the lead, Nova Soctia will eventually follow. You will have the opportunting to become an energy producer and get paid for what you contribute to a diversified generation system. A letter to the Minister and your MLA might move this along. Voting for a party that supports the program in the next election would be even better.
