Agent Orange in Ontario
The Toronto Star has released a fascinating story about Agent Orange and other herbicides, sprayed on Ontario workers and forests half a century ago. Will it lead to another class action, like the ones revolving around Gagetown, NB? I remember standing in the mist as airplanes roared over, s…
Continue reading the post titled Agent Orange in OntarioWind energy appeal moving fast
The first wind energy appeal to the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal is moving quickly. The Kent Breeze approval was issued November 12, 2010. The Erickson appeal was filed on November 29. A preliminary hearing was held January 11. The hearing of the appeal began February 1 and will c…
Continue reading the post titled Wind energy appeal moving fastChevron, Ecuador, and court shopping
30,000 people, including indigenous tribes, suing Chevron (for toxic waste discharges by its predecessor, Texaco) obtained an $8.6 billion judgment this week from the Provincial Court of Justice of Sucumbios in Lago Agrio, Ecuador. The penalty is reportedly to be doubled if Chevron does not…
Continue reading the post titled Chevron, Ecuador, and court shoppingOffshore wind moratorium
So, Ontario is ducking the offshore wind issue until after the election. I suppose it should not be a surprise, given the extraordinary public and media attention that the rapid growth in wind energy has elicited, and the growing fixation of the entire political system on the forthcoming ele…
Continue reading the post titled Offshore wind moratoriumSolar: Who really owns the roof?
An interesting wrinkle in solar energy development is: who really owns the roof? As property owners across Ontario decide whether to put solar panels on their roofs, the toughest issue often turns out to be: tenants’ rights and interests.
Continue reading the post titled Solar: Who really owns the roof?Speaking for the public: who pays?
"There is an obligation for each member of the public to accept some responsibility of bringing environmental issues to the forefront."
Continue reading the post titled Speaking for the public: who pays?A new crime: hacking carbon credits
In January, much of the European Union carbon trading system was shut down in response to the theft of carbon credits from a Czech carbon registry. Blackstone Global Ventures announced: Stolen EUA. Yesterday at 12 CET 475 000 allowances were unlawfully removed from our account with the Czech…
Continue reading the post titled A new crime: hacking carbon creditsApprovals Reform and IT
The Ministry of the Environment is racing to get its new approvals system in place. The publicly accessible database of environmental approvals is being expanded; improvements to the search function are apparently also to come. September 2012 is the target for full implementation of new appr…
Continue reading the post titled Approvals Reform and ITBig fees for renewable energy approvals
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has announced its intention to start charging significant fees for applications for renewable energy approvals: EBR 011-1203. The new Renewable Energy Approval fee structure will come into effect on March 15, 2011.
Continue reading the post titled Big fees for renewable energy approvalsMisinformation fouls the wind debate
There are many heartfelt disputes about wind, and some legitimate issues on which reasonable people may differ. However, it is also true that a great deal of misinformation is being peddled. Mike Brigham, chair of the Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative, wrote a letter to the Editor respon…
Continue reading the post titled Misinformation fouls the wind debate