Auditor General's review of renewable energy is flawed, misleading and based on discredited studies

TORONTO, March 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario Highlands Friends of Wind Power released a report today, A Critique of the Auditor General's Report on Renewable Energy Policies. (http://www.windisgood.ca/newsrelease.html.

The report concludes that the Auditor General's value-for-money audit of Ontario's renewable energy initiatives (http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/303en11.pdf) is flawed and misleading.

Author Malcolm Hamilton, an electrical engineer, former senior management consultant and retired wind developer, said the Auditor General's flawed audit is the result of "shoddy work."

"I was astonished when I read the Auditor General's report. I expected a balanced, helpful analysis that would correct some of the myths and misinformation about wind generation and shed a spotlight on Ontario's options for renewables, going forward," Hamilton said. "That is not what we got."

Mr. Hamilton found that the Auditor General and his team:

• exaggerated the problems and costs of integrating wind generation into Ontario's electricity system;
• misrepresented the relative cost of wind power generation and its impact on the cost of electricity;
• ignored the overwhelming scientific evidence that properly sited wind turbines have no adverse impact on human health, and in the process, dismissed the considered opinions of Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Heath on this issue.
• relied on out-dated, discredited, biased reports to assess the government's green energy job creation projections and health impacts.

People rely on the accuracy of Auditor General's reports. They will repeat his errors. Mr. Hamilton recommends that the Auditor General order a third party review of his audit immediately to correct the flaws in his report.

Hamilton said, "The Auditor General must have known that his report would become part of the significant but ill-informed public dialogue on renewable energy. It is unusual for him and his office to become involved in political issues. For this reason, I believe the Auditor General needs to correct the public record and, this time, get it right."

"Ontario's electricity system badly needs upgrading," he said. "Deciding how we get our power in the future must be based on solid fact, not conjecture, or opinion. It is simply too important to get wrong."

Public opinion polls have shown the majority of Ontarians support wind energy for its environmental, economic and social benefits. A debate based on facts is important to ensure we all understand the contribution wind is making as Ontario builds a stronger and cleaner electricity system.  An accurate report from the Auditor General is fundamental to this conversation.

Ontario Highlands Friends of Wind Power is a network of people, organizations, and businesses interested in wind development who want to share information about wind power generation and about projects and plans for wind generation in their communities.

Visit our blog at http://ohfowp.blogspot.com/

For further information:

Media Contact: Malcolm Hamilton [phone]