High power costs discouraging industry

High power costs discouraging industry | Local | News | Sarnia Observer:

When many of the folks working to promote Sarnia-Lambton spoke at a recent bitumen conference, Ontario's electricity prices came up over and over again.
It's a main concern, said Ray Curran, with the Sarnia Construction Association.
...
"It's a major issue because these are all big consumers of power," Curran said about the industries that have traditionally called Chemical Valley home.
"They need a lot of power to run their plants."
Margeson said Ontario once had low electricity costs that gave it an advantage over other regions, but rates have been rising in the province and are now near the top of the list.
"I've got to say that's one of the big negatives for the province," Margeson said.
Brian Love, with Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, said the province is considering several proposals that would look at the cost of power for industries.
"It's being examined carefully," he said.
Curran said the construction association has been talking about the issue for the last year or more with provincial cabinet ministers, including those in charge of industry and labour.
"We've been losing a lot of manufacturing in Ontario, and I think a lot of the reason could be the uncertainty about the cost of power," he said.
Curran said Ontario's electricity rates have been climbing since the province has been moving to develop wind and solar energy.
"We need to get a handle on this," said Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey, "because we're on track to have some of the highest energy costs, certainly in North America."

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