Thread by @edhollett

All the talk about wind and the green future.

But you cannot replace oil with any form of wind, talk included.

#nlpoli
edhollett.substack.com/p/bay-du-nord-…

h/t to @krobar44 who pointed to OC2006-026 that bans wind farm projects.

exec-oic.gov.nl.ca/public/oic/det…

That just makes matters worse for GNL.

2/

The 2007 energy plan, which seems to be what the recent "moratorium" announcement was based on, states a completely different policy.

But GNL never rescinded OC2006-026, which was an outright ban, not a moratorium, that is, a temporary halt to development.

3/

GNL doubled-down on the ban, despite the 2007 energy policy.

OC2010-296 rejected a proposed farm for Argentia because it contradicted the 2006 policy even though the proposal was in line with the 2007 energy plan.

exec-oic.gov.nl.ca/public/oic/det…

4/

It gets better.

In 2019, OC2019-092 "clarified" the policy, without referring to either the 2006 order-in-council or the 2007 energy plan.

The clarification allowed wind projects to replace isolated diesel.

exec-oic.gov.nl.ca/public/oic/det…

5/

To make things worse, @Andrew_Parsons1 announced a new policy of some kind on wind energy in early April. The statement made no reference to the 2006 OC or the energy plan.

And there is NO order-in-council available online rescinding OC2006-026.

6/

Legally, then, the 2006 BAN on wind farms remains in place with full legal effect, unless its a plan to replace isolated diesel (the 2019 clarification OC).

That can be changed but it seems that the energy policy confusion in GNL has been there for year

7/

For added effect, here's a screen grab of the OC database showing all current OCs taken a few minutes ago.

There's a gap of 33 number in there for March and April but there is NOTHING about energy.

In itself, that gap is weird.

8/

But the gap is weirder given that an order rescinding the ban and clearly stating GNL wind energy policy would - ya know - kinda be really important to go with the April 5 statement.

Not the thing you would hide, any more than you would hide the other 33 OCs or MCs.

9/

This tidbit would have been nice to have since it illustrates the core points of today's column:

1. Energy policy is a confusing and counterproductive hodge-podge that works for no one.

2. @Andrew_Parsons1 can fix that.

10/10

Here's the 2010 application for the Argentia wind project that went through enviro review before cabinet rejected it in OC2010-296.

That cancellation didn't get to the proponents until 2011.

But under OC2006-026 it should never have started.

gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/p….

11/10

The 2006 policy in force when GNL accepted the application for review banned any consideration of any wind projects, period.

Even in 2019, this application would have been contrary to the 2006 policy.

What is the policy today?

Let's see how many answers turn up.

12/10

Great piece by Ashley Fitzpatrick on wind energy (Atlantic Business Magazine), includes comments from Andrew Parsons that everything connected to the new policy is in the works.

She includes the 2006 business.

atlanticbusinessmagazine.ca/web-exclusives…

13/10