Banff Pork Seminar-Farmscape for January 20, 2006  (Episode 2037)

The Past Chair of the Canadian Wind Energy Association is calling for the adoption of net metering to encourage farmers to invest in the infrastructure that will allow them to generate alternate energy.

Susan Aris told delegates on hand for the 2006 Banff Pork Seminar one of the biggest threats to agriculture is input costs.

She says energy is costing those in agriculture extraordinary amounts and the current system actually discourages the development of alternate energy.

Clip-Susan Aris-Canadian Wind Energy Association  

What we need to be doing in the agriculture industry is lobbying for changes in the way that we are allowed to produce energy and consume energy.

What we really need to do is, like they did in 80's here in the province of Alberta, have a net metering situation so I can take some of the trapped capital that I have in my agriculture operation.

I can invest in putting up a wind turbine or, in terms of a methane capture situation, I would be able to produce energy from my own operation or on my own land base.

I would be able to use that energy myself in a net metering situation.

The meter would run back.

I would not have to pay cost and then I could sell my excess.

I could market my excess power.

Right now in the province of Alberta under deregulation you could be a generator but you have to sell into the power pool at a very minimal fee and then coming back you when you buy power in you buy it in at four or five times.

In a situation where there would be net metering it would be a win win for everyone.

The producer of energy would get the benefit of that in terms of lower input costs as well as he would be able to go forward with a capital investment which would also benefit his rural community.

In addition to that his market place would be a beneficiary of green renewable energy or in the case of wind an endless energy source.

Aris estimates 20 percent of our power in Canada could come from wind if the grid system was set up properly and we were able to utilize it.

She says, under the existing structure those who generate power into the grid are paid about a fifth of the amount at which they must buy that power back.

She says that discourages farmers from investing in the infrastructure needed to generate alternate power.

At the Banff Pork Seminar, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council