Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has announced today that it has introduced legislation to repeal the Green Energy Act including those provisions that stripped away the power of local municipalities to block wind and solar farms.

The proposed legislation gives the government authority to stop approvals for energy projects where the need for electricity has not been demonstrated.

The Green Energy Act was a major plank in the previous Liberal government’s environmental and energy strategy to end coal-fired energy generation in Ontario and replace it with a mix of nuclear and renewable energy coupled with conservation programs. The renewable energy program in particular encountered criticism from opponents as being too costly and from municipalities and residents opposed to the development of wind and solar farms and other energy projects in their neighbourhoods..

The Liberal government achieved its goal of shutting down Ontario’s coal-fired plants so it is unclear whether the repeal of the Green Energy Act at this stage represents more than an honouring in form by the PCs of an election promise.

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Manning Environmental Law is a Canadian law firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Our practice is focussed on environmental law, energy law and aboriginal law. 

Paul Manning is a certified specialist in environmental law. He has been named as one of the World’s Leading Environmental Lawyers and one of the World’s Leading Climate Change Lawyers by Who’s Who Legal.

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