Halifax – During Question Period on Tuesday, April 20, Inverness MLA Allan MacMaster asked Premier Darrell Dexter the following question: “Do you believe Nova Scotians want clean energy at the schedule you have set if it means you are making it more expensive for them to live?”
A prophetic question? Maybe.
While the Premier’s answer was inadequate, MacMaster's suggestion that the NDP is accelerating renewable energy targets at the expense of increased home energy bills appears to be right.
With the recent news of Nova Scotia Power Inc. seeking a 12 to 18 per cent increase, MacMaster is satisfied that he finally has his answer.
"If we use more expensive inputs, we will drive up the cost of energy. People need to be able to afford to heat their homes and drive to work. Nova Scotia businesses like the NewPage paper mill, whose energy needs comprise about one-third of their costs, need to remain competitive," said MacMaster
MacMaster is also expressing his appreciation for Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks, who yesterday met with regional stakeholders who would most likely be impacted by the rate increase.
“The minister was sincere when he acknowledged that this issue is a significant concern for our province,” said MacMaster. “When I asked the question to Premier Dexter, my aim was to be constructive. We have a responsibility to work together for the people of this province, and that means finding a solution that protects the economic and environmental well being of our province.”
“Tough decisions have to be made, and I believe this decision will undoubtedly be one of the toughest this minister and this government will ever have to make while in office.”
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*******NOTE TO EDITORS********
A transcript of the MacMaster – Dexter exchange on April 20 has been provided below. Source: Hansard, Tuesday, April 20, 2010.
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Michael Kydd
Public Relations Advisor
Office of the Leader – PC Caucus
902.424.4996 (o)
902.237.1965 (bb)
kyddma@gov.ns.ca
PREM.: RENEWABLE ENERGY - COSTS
MR. ALLAN MACMASTER: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Premier Dexter has promised Nova Scotians that he will make our province use 25 per cent renewable energy by 2015. My question for the Premier is, what will the increase be for the average Nova Scotian's bi-monthly energy bill in 2015 as a result of this commitment?
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, in fact, the reason why we're moving to a renewable resource-based energy supply is that it will be cheaper over the long haul. The capital costs up front, of course, are greater and what we know is that the world price of fossil fuel continues to climb. Where that break-even point is depends on the escalation of the cost of fossil fuels and as much as I'd like to be able to tell the member opposite what those costs will be in the future, I'm not able to do that.
MR. MACMASTER: Mr. Speaker, this NDP Government makes decisions without understanding the consequences it will have on the average Nova Scotian. I do respect we don't know where our future energy costs are going - we can follow trends - but another thing that we don't know it how much it's going to cost to have renewable energy this quickly. We saw them ignore these consequences and we saw it with their decision to increase taxes.
Nova Scotia Power has estimated that the cost of energy will increase 5 per cent each year for the next five years. That is equivalent to a compounded rate of growth of 27.62 per cent, or $276 on top of every current $1,000 energy bill. To the Premier, do you believe Nova Scotians want clean energy at the schedule you have set if it means you are making it more expensive for them to live?
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, what I know is that the people of Nova Scotia understand the necessity for us to get off fossil fuels and if we don't do that, we will continue to be the hostage to international markets, which we have no control over. What we can do though is, we can take control of our own energy future by having renewable resources here in the province that will supply the energy needs of the province.
MR. MACMASTER: Mr. Speaker, I could only hope the people of China felt the same way as the Premier, but he may very well push us toward a very uncompetitive position in the world. Everyone wants clean energy, but basic human energy needs should not be satisfied based on personal financial ability. People need to be able to afford to heat their homes and to drive their vehicles. Mr. Speaker, through you to the Premier - by accelerating renewable energy targets, why do you choose to penalize the consumer for heating their home and driving their vehicle to earn a living?
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I guess I understand the questions, but they are wholly ill-informed. We are living in a world where the largest market to the south of us, the United States, has said that they're going to start putting in place carbon-based tariffs that are going to penalize the economy of provinces that do not convert to renewable energy. This would have an extraordinary impact on jobs, on the lives of the people of this province. We are moving to make sure that, as a province, we are not penalized as a result of our reliance on fossil fuels. This is the responsibility of this government and it's unfortunate that the member opposite doesn't understand that.
