The “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) syndrome that has created roadblocks for new energy projects will no longer be tolerated by the Ontario government, Premier Dalton McGuinty warned yesterday as he pitched his proposed Green Energy Act.
McGuinty told the London Chamber of Commerce the legislation will include provisions to stop special interest groups or municipal governments from trying to block green energy projects for anything other than safety or environmental concerns.
“We’re going to find a way through this new legislation to make it perfectly clear that NIMBYism will no longer prevail when it comes to putting up wind turbines, solar panels and bio-fuel plants,” he told the business audience.
“We need those jobs. We need clean electricity, and we need to assume our full responsibility in the face of climate change.”
McGuinty said they are hoping to create 50,000 new jobs from green energy projects, adding residents want those jobs in their community,
