With a full understanding of the value of a dependable supply of electric energy, Ontario farmers are preparing to pitch in with their own source of electricity to help with the provincial energy shortage.
At the August 20 meeting of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) board of directors, a resolution was passed to encourage farmers with their own on-farm power generators to disconnect from the public power grid at peak consumption periods and generate their own power needs.
“There are about 25,000 farmers in the province with on-farm generators, so this move could free up about a million kilowatts for other consumers,” says Ron Bonnett, President of the OFA. It will be a totally voluntary effort by individual farmers.
The move will hopefully do two things, Bonnett says: make more energy available for other consumers in the province and be recognized as the agricultural community’s show of appreciation to Ontario consumers for their support over recent months.
Ontario’s livestock sector has been hit hard economically by the BSE crisis and the closed United States border. During this period, however, Ontario residents have increased their consumption of beef. This has helped a lot, Bonnett says, and farmers want to show their appreciation.
Farmers able to participate in this initiative will be switching to their own generators between 4 and 8 p.m. on peak demand days, and this should be enough to reduce the likelihood of blackouts like that of August 14th, says Bonnett.
~Ron Bonnett~
President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture