Paper Industry News
Ontario green power plan sparks cost concerns
Tuesday, 13, April 2010
Erco Worldwide shut down its chemical plant in Thunder Bay four years ago after blaming rising power costs for making the factory uneconomic, and now president Paul Timmons worries a similar fate may be in store for his customers in the pulp and paper industry.While Premier Dalton McGuinty touts the “green jobs” that will result from unprecedented investments in renewable energy.
Mr. Timmons echoes critics who are more focused on the rising price of electricity, which they fear is eroding the competitiveness of Ontario's industrial power customers.At least part of the price pressure is the result of the McGuinty government's determination to claim North American leadership in clean energy by closing coal-fired plants and offering premium prices for wind, solar and small hydro developments.
