Back in 2010, the Ontario Liberal government hired Sussex Strategy to find a path through the increasing backlash from the Green Energy Act allowing rural residents to become collateral damage by (then) 500 foot tall wind turbines being erected way too close to family homes and farms.

This bright little paper was quite revealing. Have a swim through it and don’t be surprised that the government wanted to “confuse” you all along.

“•In this, it will be critical to “confuse”the issue in the political/public/media away from just price toinclude key value attributes such as jobs, clean air, farm income, etc. Renewables cannot be defined by price alone.”

“…Existing polling shows that jobs and investment are much more important drivers than health/environment. Also, shifting attitudes in the link between price escalation and renewables.”

Document here: sussex_group_

Here is just the first page:

“A number of renewable energy developers have come together to form a lose coalition of interests, to promote renewable energy policy in Ontario and support the agenda set as part of the Green Energy and Economy Act and the Feed‐in‐Tariff program.
•This coalition will be joined by other groups, such as Environmental Defence and the GEA Alliance, as well as labour, economic development, health and environmental stakeholders, to develop common messaging, communications tools (ie. paid and earned media) and targeted local campaigns in areas where opposition to renewable power exists.
•The goal of this effort will be two‐fold:
1.Help support an expedited release of FIT contracts, including those associated with new Bruce‐Milton transmission capacity; and
2.Support the broader government plan for sustained contracting for wind and solar through the FIT Program, as part of the Supply Mix Directive and Long‐Term Energy Plan.
•As renewable energy is also anticipated to be a wedge issue in the election, with the PCs supporting a move away from renewables, this effort should consolidate industry and non‐industry stakeholders in rallying support for a continued focus on green power as important economic, social, and energy policy in Ontario.
•In this, it will be critical to “confuse”the issue in the political/public/media away from just price toinclude key value attributes such as jobs, clean air, farm income, etc. Renewables cannot be defined by price alone.”