The government's new wind energy plan dominated much of the first question period of the fall session of the P.E.I. legislature Wednesday.
Opposition leader Olive Crane opened questioning in the fall session of the legislature, focusing on the government's plan to triple wind power production on the Island over the next five years. The plan would require a billion-dollar investment, mostly by the private sector.
Crane expressed her concern about the effects of the plan on the Island landscape. She wanted to how many meetings the government has had with Islanders who would be affected by dozens of wind turbines dotting the countryside.
Premier Robert Ghiz replied that any consultations will be up to the companies that want to develop wind farms here. He said if Islanders in particular communities don't want the development in their neighbourhood, then the government won't approve the project.
Crane followed up, asking why no public meetings have been held before the government came up with its 10-point wind energy plan. Crane noted that the last project on this scale, the Confederation Bridge, was preceded by numerous meetings and two plebiscites.
Ghiz repeated that there will be consultations before any wind farms are built.
Opposition MLA Mike Currie continued the questioning on wind energy. Currie wanted to know if the government had secured a power corridor to transfer wind energy through Maine.
Ghiz said the current lack of a corridor was a failure of the previous, Progressive Conservative, government, and that his government is working with the other Maritime provinces and the New England states to secure a power corridor.
Currie then wanted to know why the province didn't build more of the turbines itself, so that individual Islanders would see benefits rather than shareholders of Maritime Electric.
Ghiz said his 10-point plan will address many of those concerns raised, and that all Islanders will benefit.
