TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 14, 2011) - The Ontario Energy Association (OEA) is disappointed by the Ontario government's decision not to proceed with offshore wind projects across the province.

The government announced the decision on Friday, February 11, 2011.

"We are concerned that this postponement and other recent decisions are sending signals that have the potential to deter future investment in energy projects in Ontario," says Elise Herzig, OEA President and CEO. "Wind and other renewable sources of energy are key elements in the government's plan to close the remaining coal plants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To create the stability the energy sector needs to build and invest in Ontario, government must stick to its long-term plans as much as possible."

The government news release announcing the decision cited the need to conduct further scientific research. The release also said that Ontario would monitor the scientific knowledge coming from an offshore wind project now operating in Sweden and from one that has been proposed in Ohio. Proposed offshore wind projects have been the subjects of local protest in some areas in Ontario.

Power generation projects are long-term investment projects with long lead times and large upfront costs. Developers spend their own time and money getting investments, acquiring land rights, dealing with stakeholder groups, and going through the regulatory process. The return on this investment only comes after the projects have been built and are generating power.

"The OEA supports clean energy production and the use of evidence and research in policy development," says Herzig. "We look forward to the government specifying which information it needs so that its outstanding questions may be answered. The OEA has members who develop many different types of energy projects in many jurisdictions throughout the world, and we would be pleased to facilitate the government's research activities to help increase fact-based evidence and transparency."

The OEA has more than 150 corporate members representing the full diversity of the energy industry in Ontario – power producers, firms that transport, transmit and deliver natural gas and electricity, energy marketers and retailers, manufacturers, contractors, service providers, and energy consultants.