We live in a time of unparalleled opportunity - to clean our air, to produce energy without polluting the atmosphere, and to create a sustainable future.

This same opportunity also results in economic development. Industry Canada states that Canada's potential in the renewable energy sector could create 13,000 jobs by the year 2012 and produce $10 billion in revenue.

With the right initiatives and policies, this revenue can be invested and retained locally. The Ontario Green Energy Act will take advantage of this potential.

The Province of Ontario has abundant sources of renewable energy - the potential of wind, solar and hydro resources in the province is 65,000 megawatts!

Although the wind doesn't blow all the time and the sun doesn't shine 24 hours a day, installing 65,000 megawatts of green generators will meet a large portion of Ontario's demand for energy.

Ontario currently has 512 megawatts of solar and 8,000 megawatt of wind installed. But in order to become a global leader in sustainable electricity, it must foster and encourage development throughout its communities across the province.

Similar to other provinces and countries, Ontario's energy resources vary across its geographic boundaries.

• The strongest winds are found along the shores of the Great Lakes and in areas with high elevations
• Potential for solar energy is highest south of Sault St. Marie and Ottawa. (Atlas of Canada Solar Radiation)

Ontario can harness these energy resources available in different parts of the province, including:

• 55,000 megawatts of capacity in onshore and offshore winds
• 5,000 megawatts of potential in medium and micro hydro applications
• 5,000 megawatts available using small hydro, solar and biogas technologies.

The Economic Payback

The David Suzuki Foundation states that in the short term Ontario could easily produce 8000 megawatts of electricity from wind by 2012.

This would equate to $14 billion in economic benefits.

Looking at projections to the year 2025, the picture is even brighter. In fact, the Canadian Wind Energy Association states that wind energy can satisfy 20 per cent of Canada's electricity demand by 2025.

If Ontario tapped all of its provincial wind potential (55,000 megawatts), it could generate $79 billion of investment, making our wind energy sector a real player in a $1.8 trillion global wind industry.  

Jobs

Industry Canada Study equates 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy with 13,000 jobs.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association estimates that installing 55,000 megawatt of wind capacity would create at least 52,000 high quality, full-time jobs including many in rural communities. 

Beyond these projections, actual data is available from countries that have succeeded in becoming world leaders in generating renewable energy:

• Denmark, with a population less than New York City, produces half of the world's wind turbines and employs 20,000 people.
• Germany, with 31,000 megawatt of installed capacity has produced 240,000 jobs in the green energy sector.

These statistics bode well for revitalizing our manufacturing sector, for re-training our workers, and for building a strong economy.