Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Fraser Institute’s “Wind and Sunlight” report misses the mark, says CanWEA

By Michelle Froese | August 6, 2019

Wind integration in Canada and the U.S. is increasing, according to CanWEA, with six states and one province already generating 20% or more of their electricity using wind energy.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) has responded to the Fraser Institute’s recently released report, Generating Electricity in Canada from Wind and Sunlight: Is Getting Less for More Better than Getting More for Less?

According to this report, wind and solar create higher costs and produce fewer environmental benefits than proponents claim.

“The Fraser Institute has missed the mark on the facts and conclusions in its analysis of the contributions renewable energy is making in Canada,” stated Jean François Nolet, VP of Policy, Government & Public Affairs with CanWEA. “Wind energy provides reliable, cost-effective and clean electricity to provincial grids while generating local economic development, creating thousands of jobs and reducing carbon emissions across Canada.”

In a press statement about the new study, co-author Pierre Desrochers, a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and associate professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga said: “Electricity systems are complex, and too often policymakers pursue renewable energy sources such as wind and solar without understanding their true costs,”

The study finds that while wind turbines and solar panels are relatively cheap to operate — given their fuel source is free — they’re costly to build and connect to the power grid.

CanWEA disagrees, and points to several other studies. For example, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory report, Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Electricity Generation, has demonstrated that wind energy is one of the most environmentally sustainable forms of generation — even when impacts are considered on a life-cycle basis for all of the resources required to enable wind to be produced.

Additionally, reports by The Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity and Clean Energy Canada show how renewable energy sources can power the economy while cutting carbon emissions and deliver clean growth for Canada.

“Wind energy is the lowest-cost option for new electricity supply in Canada and is a corner stone to helping electrify the economy and meeting climate commitments,” added François Nolet. The Pan-Canadian Wind Integration Study, for instance, demonstrates that Canada can source more than one-third of its electricity from wind energy without compromising grid reliability – while capturing wind energy’s economic and environmental benefits.

“The wind energy industry is committed to working with communities, governments and system operators to ensure the responsible and sustainable development of the wind energy industry in Canada as the electricity grid is transformed to power a low-carbon future,” he said.


Filed Under: News
Tagged With: CanWEA
 

About The Author

Michelle Froese

Related Articles Read More >

US government allows Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction
Richardson Electronics to deliver pitch energy modules to TransAlta wind fleets
Equinor halts work on Empire Wind offshore project after federal government order
ARESCA wants input on offshore wind standards

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe