Energy Minister Bill Dooks's fears about wind energy are overblown, say people in the industry.

Dooks told reporters Wednesday that he has doubts about wind power, asking, "What happens if the wind stops blowing?"

Robert Leth, of Breton Windworks, finds the minister's comment disturbing.

"It's an extremely ill-informed remark," Leth said. "It's on the level of what happens to solar energy at night."

Wind energy is sustainable, pollution free and doesn't produce toxic waste. According to Natural Resources Canada, 2005 was a record year for new wind turbines in the country.

Turbines work best in the windiest spots. Putting one in an area with strong winds generates more energy than a turbine in a less windy area.

Wind power has never been regarded as a replacement for other sources of electricity such as coal; it's seen as a cleaner and potentially cheaper complement.
       
For years, Leth and other wind-energy producers have been asking the provincial government for the right to sell electricity directly to customers.

Though a government committee recommended competition, the Progressive Conservatives have maintained Nova Scotia Powers' monopoly.

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Dooks's remark has made a frustrating situation even worse, says Barrington Wind president Ian Tillard, who quickly fired off a letter demanding a meeting with the energy minister.
 
"The point here is not whether the wind blows or doesn't blow. The point is we need everybody to understand how electricity is generated and how wind can be added to that," Tillard said.
  
Even so, Nova Scotia is one of the windiest provinces in the country. In fact, says Bob Robichaud, with Environment Canada, the wind hardly ever stops.

"The sun would have to stop shining for the wind to stop blowing," said Robichaud.

Allan Crandlemire, a spokesman for the Department of Energy, says Dooks was only referring to the need for backup power to wind energy.

"The minister is very interested in increasing renewables in Nova Scotia [and] we're setting targets that are fairly aggressive," said Crandlemire.

Nova Scotia Power says wind turbines provide about 40 megawatts of its 2,300-megawatt total for the province.