August 25^th, 2006

Dear Premier McGuinty,

The decisions you make today have consequences on our children’s future the likes of which have never been known in human history. We the people elected you with the understanding that you would represent our collective interests to the best of your ability. You are telling us that there is no choice but to continue running our coal plants. You say that renewable energy sources and conservation would leave us 10,000 megawatts short. Your answer is that nuclear, despite waste disposal and operating dangers, is our only answer. It will cost all of us in excess of 45 billion dollars assuming things go according to plan on this gargantuan engineering project.

Your current proposed solution is fatally flawed and needlessly so. You and I are responsible for the death that will be caused. Thousands of people will continue to die from the pollution caused by coal plants. We must have a plan to shut them down. Nuclear cannot be the right answer. Nuclear poses grave dangers in the event of inevitable human error, terrorist attack, and the inability of such complex systems to operate reliably. We have seen this reality here and abroad. Nuclear requires uranium which is a non-renewable resource just like oil, making it a dead end solution. Finally, the cost of existing nuclear, which we still pay for, and which we all know is another hidden provincial debt problem, simply cannot be delivered reliably for the costs suggested by engineers and planners. When projects are that big, for that amount of money, with that many people and organizations involved, they will, as we’ve seen with other projects of this magnitude, come in at double or more the original estimated cost. Knowing this, it would be negligent if not a crime to continue along this path.

Given that some or all of these arguments must be familiar, common sense and reasonable to you, the only other issue that might lead us down your current planned path is your stated view that conservation, efficiency and renewable energy would be insufficient to meet the demand for 10,000 additional MW. Many sources are available to show that 25-50% reductions in current demand are possible through conservation and efficiency measures. With incentives it is quite affordable to achieve up to 90% reductions in energy demand in residential, commercial and even industrial energy consumption. Working, proven examples exist in countries like Germany, as illustrated in the enclosed 45-minute documentary video that I have produced for you. The video shows these solutions in action with commentary from a politician, a planner and an individual who has made it work (see The Solar Village DVD). The Solar House toured, and the resident interviewed, show that an affordable twenty-unit apartment can be built with 90% energy efficiency improvements with initial costs just 7% greater than conventional construction – allowing energy savings to pay for this extra cost in just the first few years of operation. The Solar Fabrik factory demonstrates that industry can compete globally producing in zero emissions factories, industrial buildings and commercial space.

If you haven’t seen the movie An Inconvenient Truth then I strongly urge you to do so, as the far reaching global disruption that will occur and that will precipitate other economic, resource, social and political upheaval are unimaginably ominous. In Toronto where we live and work I see that thousands are dying from pollution, economic difficulties are causing social upheaval, and the world is facing global warming and fossil fuel energy crises. We are the world in microcosm. If we can lead by visionary working example into a sustainable world with social justice for all then we will have lived a life worth living. If there is to be hope in the world – and there must be for our children to grow up into healthy well adjusted adults – then we must be the change that proves we can live within natural resource limits, proving that diversity can coexist peacefully, creatively and productively as a community.

As Hermann Scheer, the MP from Germany who initiated their standard offer contracts program for renewable energy supply, stated: "I was the initiator of this law. It happens what I have forecasted. As soon as people are informed and they get an awareness of renewable energy, all people would prefer clean, 'forever' energy instead of using atomic, coal or other fossil energies. The chance to get clean energy forever is a unique chance, and normal people would prefer that." In Germany there is a plan for their highly industrialized society of 82 million people that will see nuclear and coal eliminated in about twenty years. In a CBC interview earlier this year, he then goes on to say "The energy companies who carry the present energy system try to terrify the people with the argument against renewables that it would cost too much. Or they try to terrify the governments that the potential of renewable energies would not be enough for the replacement of conventional energies. And this is a big lie. It is a myth." In conclusion he then says, "I have heard about new nuclear power plants in Canada. I think there is no rational argument to do that, if you compare that with the potential of wind, to take only one example of a complementary element to the existing hydro power potential in Canada. The combination of wind and water only could lead in Canada, in the run of very few years, less than 10 years, to an electric power structure only with renewable energies. Totally clean, totally clean." He then paused and revises his forecast. "I think it could be possible in 5 years." Imagine how many lives we could save and how many more would be improved. Imagine the massive economic benefits so fairly distributed. Imagine the sense of justice inherent in such a life affirming challenge. (See the CBC web site for the details of the interview http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/features/solar/owning.html ).

Finally, as you know from my previous letter to you regarding our solar home, it is now affordable to build or renovate homes so that they feed into your standard offer contract program for renewable energy. These are comfortable, attractive, award-winning homes that nurture the health of the occupant while saving them money. We the people that elected you can produce 10-25 percent of our own electricity demand while achieving 25-50 percent energy demand reductions (see Wilson Natural Home DVD). Challenged to do so, and given the tools that you already are putting in place, we can become a beacon of hope in a world facing climate crises, peak oil, increasing levels of poverty, and violent conflict.

Once again I invite you and your family to join us for our open house on Saturday September 9^th, 2006 (details and directions are at www.naturallifenetwork.com/sunfest2006/ ). Seeing solar and wind in action and understanding the real costs, being able to ask how they work, and how easy it really is, convinces many people each year to make the switch. You too can cost-effectively generate renewable energy, reduce demand and create a more sustainable lifestyle. If we can do it then all of us can. We need your leadership now more than at any time in human history. This is your moment. I implore you, for our children, for the sake of all children around the world; you must take up this challenge. This is the greatest call to action in human history. It is not about money. It is about life, life in our community.

Sincerely,

John Wilson

E-Mail: john.wilson@naturallifenetwork.com

Web Site: www.naturallifenetwork.com