Environmentalists challenge biomass plan
The Ecology Action Centre is calling for a five-year moratorium on the burning of waste wood - known as biomass - to produce electricity.
Biomass, which includes wood shavings and junk logs, is a key part of the province's plan to reduce its dependence on coal.
There are concerns, however, that the plan will lead to more clear-cutting.
"The forest cannot be sacrificed on the altar of quick, cheap electricity," said Ray Plourde, wilderness co-ordinator at the 37-year-old ecological organization.
The government is promising new regulations to prevent that.
"If we don't change policy, then there's probably going to be more clear-cutting," said Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell.
In April, the government announced a target for 40 per cent of all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020.
But Plourde said burning biomass comes at too high a cost.
"At the end of the day, these targets and the word 'renewable' are almost becoming corrupted. We don't feel burning the forest for electricity is green at all," he said.
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TORONTO - The first of May has taken on new meaning this year in Ontario.
It's when the province's ban on hydro disconnections during the winter months comes to an end.
Wendy Watson, the director of communications at Greater Sudbury Utilities, says signs of the approaching deadline could be seen in their office of the past few weeks.
"We've had quite an active stream of people into our front office to catch up on their accounts and also we've had a lot of people calling us to make payment arrangements or pay their bill or deal with their arrears," she says.
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