Ontario government intent on derailing offshore wind legal action

Aug 13th, 2012 1:11 PM

Media Advisory When: August 14, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Where: 393 University Avenue, Court Room 804 What: Ontario government lawyers will seek to dismiss a legal action (Rule 21 Motion) filed by Trillium Power Wind Corporation (Trillium Power) after the Province cancelled all offshore wind projects in February 2011. Trillium Power was well advanced in developing projects located between 10 and 120 km offshore in The Great Lakes. Despite Trillium Power filing its legal action in September 2011 in response to the Province’s actions, the Province has yet to produce a statement of defence. The Province has advanced only procedural arguments which have led to delays. Trillium Power remains poised to work with the Province to advance development of the far-offshore wind resources of Ontario and to further the success of the Green Energy and Economy Act. To schedule interviews with Trillium Power Wind Corporation representatives, contact Don Huff of Environmental Communications Options at 416-972-7404 or huffd@ecostrategy.ca. Background The Ontario government media release announcing its intention was distributed on the afternoon of Friday, February 11, 2011. This occurred one hour before Trillium Power was to complete financing arrangements for its TPW1 offshore wind project located 28 km from shore in Lake Ontario. The Province’s media release announced an immediate moratorium on approving offshore wind projects. The Environmental Bill of Rights, http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca (EBR Registry# 011-0907) outlines the actual action taken by the Province, being the canceling and confiscation of all exisiting offshore wind applications. The offshore wind production potential of The Great Lakes is immense and conservative estimates see it as a $250 billion industry. Subsequent to the Ontario announcement, the US Federal government has accelerated their support for offshore wind, including in The Great Lakes. To view the Factum of the Defendant, go to: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24210602/Trillium/Ontario%20Factum.pdf To view the Factum of the Responding Party Plaintiff, go to: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24210602/Trillium/Corrected%20Trillium%20Factum.pdf