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Italy is also planning new cuts to renewable energy production incentives. The Dutch have deemed offshore wind turbines too expensive. And Great Britain is going before its Supreme Court to challenge a ruling that its plan to axe solar subsidies was illegal. Losing the court battle could cost British taxpayers the equivalent of nearly $270 million. So what are we doing in Ontario? Were continuing to pay up to 80 cents a kilowatt hour for solar contracts through the Feed-In-Tariff program for power that can be sold for five cents or less, Fedeli argued. The FIT program is currently undergoing a review, but we have to ask whether simply reducing the overbloated subsidies is enough. I contend it isnt and believe the program should be scrapped, period. Fedeli stressed the PC caucus believes green energy is an important part of Ontarios energy supply mix now and in the future. However, it must be affordable and it isnt right now. The cost of power in Ontario went up 9.8 per cent last year alone! said Fedeli. Under the current system, its forecast to go higher. That means even more industries leaving Ontario, and neighbouring provinces and states competing even harder against us. The Auditor General reported that for every green job Ontario has created, another two to four jobs have been lost in other industries. If Ontario is ever to see economic recovery, we cant let this continue, Fedeli concluded.
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