Apparently kudos are in order for Ontario, Canada after recently being named North America’s wind energy leader. Ontario’s Minister of Energy, George Smitherman, accepted the 2009 World Wind Energy Award at an international conference held in South Korea.
The Minister was also hailed as a leader in establishing Ontario’s Green Energy and Green Economy Act, legislation that will have a big impact in further fueling a strong domestic wind industry in Ontario and making the province a worldwide leader in that field.
Since 2002, the World Wind Energy Award has been presented to leaders in six different countries to recognize their commitment and contributions to sustainable wind energy.
The award seems well deserved as Ontario boasts 1000 megawatts of wind capacity, a consumption of about a quarter of a million average households.
As well, Ontario’s Green Energy Act will cause an estimated 50,000 or more direct or indirect new jobs to be created by the end of 2012, with a $5 billion investment in areas of renewable generation and conservation.
Smitherman summed up his feelings by confirming that ‘we’re well on our way to making a difference in greening our society’. Ontario, you could say, is riding on the wind.
