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A stakeholder analysis of investments for wind power electricity generation in Ontario

Author

Listed:
  • Pejman Bahramian

    (Department of Economics, Queen's University)

  • Glenn Jenkins
  • Frank Milne

    (Queen's University)

Abstract

This study uses an ex-post evaluation of the grid-connected wind projects in Ontario, Canada, to quantify the stakeholder impacts of such renewable energy projects. Our study includes a financial, economic and stakeholder analysis of these wind farms. The analysis sheds light on the distributional impacts that arise when there is a significant gap between the incentives created by the financial price paid for electricity generation and the economic value of the electricity generated. The analysis shows that the negotiated power purchase agreements (PPAs) have resulted in a negative outcome for the economy in all circumstances. It is found that the present value of the economic costs is at least three times the present value of the economic benefits, including the global benefits from the reduced CO2 emissions. This loss is borne by all the stakeholders of the electricity system, except the private owners of the wind farms. The losers are primarily the electricity consumers followed by the governments. The Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) programme, which is financed by increased government borrowing, has the effect of transferring a large share of the costs incurred to promote investments in wind power to future generations of taxpayers in Ontario.

Suggested Citation

  • Pejman Bahramian & Glenn Jenkins & Frank Milne, 2020. "A stakeholder analysis of investments for wind power electricity generation in Ontario," Working Paper 1442, Economics Department, Queen's University.
    • Handle: RePEc:qed:wpaper:1442
    as

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    File URL: https://www.econ.queensu.ca/sites/econ.queensu.ca/files/wpaper/qed_wp_1442.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Glenn Jenkins & Chun-Yan Kuo & Arnold C. Harberger, 2011. "Cost-Benefit Analysis for Investment Decisions: Chapter 4 (Discounting and Alternative Investment Criteria)," Development Discussion Papers 2011-04, JDI Executive Programs.
    2. Cohen, Stuart M. & Caron, Justin, 2018. "The economic impacts of high wind penetration scenarios in the United States," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 558-573.
    3. Bahramian, Pejman & Jenkins, Glenn P. & Milne, Frank, 2021. "The displacement impacts of wind power electricity generation: Costly lessons from Ontario," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
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    5. Winfield, Mark & Dolter, Brett, 2014. "Energy, economic and environmental discourses and their policy impact: The case of Ontario׳s Green Energy and Green Economy Act," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 423-435.
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    8. Jenkins, G.P., 1998. "Evaluation of Stakeholder Impacts in Cost-Benefit Analysis," Papers 631, Harvard - Institute for International Development.
    9. Severin Borenstein, 2012. "The Private and Public Economics of Renewable Electricity Generation," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 26(1), pages 67-92, Winter.
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    15. Glenn P. Jenkins & Saule Baurzhan & Author-Name: Godwin O-Williams, 2018. "Evaluation of the Economic Performance of Hydropower Developments Supported by the World Bank Group 1975 to 2015," Development Discussion Papers 2018-06, JDI Executive Programs.
    16. Rosenbloom, Daniel & Berton, Harris & Meadowcroft, James, 2016. "Framing the sun: A discursive approach to understanding multi-dimensional interactions within socio-technical transitions through the case of solar electricity in Ontario, Canada," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(6), pages 1275-1290.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic analysis; electricity; Ontario; wind power;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources

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