Green Hubs
It seems that every community's new goal is to become a Green Hub, whatever that ill defined goal is. Brantford wants to become one as does Brant County along with the Six Nations, Norfolk County as well as many other places including Bancroft, Peterborough, several cities in the western part of Canada, Iceland, New Mexico, cities in Europe, etc. Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations and Norfolk have indicated a willingness to partner together on this but we have have seen how successful these partnership have worked in the past.
The idea of a Green Hub seems to be the creating a hub for the advancement of research, innovation and enterprise in green technologies, which sounds good if very vague on details. It also promises sustainable transport, zero waste and environmental services within a community. Lofty goals for sure, but how realistic are they? It is being touted as having the potential for jobs, investment, assessment, educational opportunities and the resulting prosperity. The object is for this area to be recognized internationally as a centre of excellence for renewable energy and sustainable living.
Critics have pointed out that the hub concept could really clear the way for the building of an incinerator or gasification plant to burn Toronto's garbage. Such a plant is part of the proposal for this area with its resultant pollution containing cancer causing particles. Huge windmills that generate wind power are another feature of this green technology but have proven to be unwanted in urban areas where the noise can be overwhelming and could have long tern health effects. Are the residents of Brantford really in favour of these?After all, a proposed local ethanol plant was forced to locate elsewhere and ethanol is a large part of green technology.
There are many companies that are getting involved in the promotion of these so called green technologies and most want large amounts of taxpayer money to be included in their projects. Being a Green Hub sounds appealing but politicians would be wise not to rush headlong into this before studying the cost and benefits of these projects and the chances of this area really becoming a leading green hub, as opposed to all the other areas that are looking to become the same.
The idea of a Green Hub seems to be the creating a hub for the advancement of research, innovation and enterprise in green technologies, which sounds good if very vague on details. It also promises sustainable transport, zero waste and environmental services within a community. Lofty goals for sure, but how realistic are they? It is being touted as having the potential for jobs, investment, assessment, educational opportunities and the resulting prosperity. The object is for this area to be recognized internationally as a centre of excellence for renewable energy and sustainable living.
Critics have pointed out that the hub concept could really clear the way for the building of an incinerator or gasification plant to burn Toronto's garbage. Such a plant is part of the proposal for this area with its resultant pollution containing cancer causing particles. Huge windmills that generate wind power are another feature of this green technology but have proven to be unwanted in urban areas where the noise can be overwhelming and could have long tern health effects. Are the residents of Brantford really in favour of these?After all, a proposed local ethanol plant was forced to locate elsewhere and ethanol is a large part of green technology.
There are many companies that are getting involved in the promotion of these so called green technologies and most want large amounts of taxpayer money to be included in their projects. Being a Green Hub sounds appealing but politicians would be wise not to rush headlong into this before studying the cost and benefits of these projects and the chances of this area really becoming a leading green hub, as opposed to all the other areas that are looking to become the same.
posted by The Grouchy Old Man at 2:37 PM
3 Comments:
oh my GAWD. You are concerned with the noise of turbines, but are completely okay with coal burning plants and the destroying of our planet through the over-use of fossil fuels. Have you BEEN to a turbine farm? Have you sat outside one in a lawn chair to really investigate the 'issues' behind the complete crap excuses of those who are so dipped in oil they make the BP Chairman look good? I have difficulty with people that try to put a bad light on ANY form of energy that does not destroy the planet. Frankly, if it were up to me, every north american home would be REQUIRED to have a small turbine, solor roof shingles, and a decent rain-water gathering system on their house.
Noisey turbines indeed. You are a bit better than that arent you Old Man?
In an age where everything "green" is an object of worship, it's quite likely private homes will be zoned beside wind turbines before a coal plant.
I think the skepticism about a jobs program for the eco industry is well founded. Essentially this is what a "green hub" is. Why are people reluctant to call a spade a spade?
My point was that Brantford/Brant was jumping on the Green Hub bandwagon without any defined plan again or any idea what it might cost the taxpayers.
I see that the County is moving to block the building of a waste to energy plant on Oak Park Road. How can you be a Hub when you don't want green projects. Maybe that plant will end up on the Glebe lands as first proposed.
As for wind turbines, I have never heard them up close and am only going by stories of experiences of those living near them. There is lots of new clean coal technology available too.
Solar roof shingles might work for some but I actually have real trees on my property that shade the roof much of the day and snow cover in the winter. When I was a kid many houses had cisterns and I later lived in a house with a cistern and a well. Cisterns have their own unique problems and are powered by electric motors so what is saved in one instance is lost in the other.
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