The provincial government's decision to suspend over 1,000 MW of green energy projects is being greeted with skepticism in Sarnia-Lambton.
Santo Giorno of 'We're Against Industrial Turbines' Plympton-Wyoming describes today's announcement as political and disingenuous.
"My first reaction was finally we have a little bit of good news that the government is behaving responsibly," says Giorno. "My second thought was that it took a by-election loss in order for them to swing into action and I think in part this is a political move and not necessarily a long term technical decision on how to operate the grid."
Ontario Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault says the decision is expected to save up to $3.8-billion in costs from its 2013 long-term plan and stops another $2.45 from being added to monthly electricity bills.
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey calls it window dressing.
"People need to keep in mind when the first of November comes you're going to get another rate increase again," says Bailey. "So this is all window dressing. Trying to change the story because in my opinion they lost the Scarborough by-election. We finally got through to them that these hydro prices that people are paying are impossible to keep up."
Thibeault says the decision to suspend the projects was made after the Independent Electricity System Operator's planning outlook determined there's a robust supply of electricity and Ontario won't need the additional power it had planned to purchase.
- with files from Stephanie Chaves