CALGARY, March 23 /CNW/ - Canada's ability to generate "Green Power" was not enhanced in any way, shape or form today by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale's Budget. We had expected more of a Martin government and we were disappointed.

It had been expected that the Minister would announce a key initiative that would make investments in wind power more attractive. This involved strengthening the Government of Canada's Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI). Unfortunately, no such enhancement was found in the Budget for WPPI, an initiative the Coalition was instrumental in helping to bring to fruition in the December 10, 2001 Budget when Prime Minister Martin was still the Finance Minister and Mr. Goodale was the Minister at NRCan responsible for the program.

The Coalition was also concerned that Finance Minister Goodale did not explicitly act upon an important recommendation it had recently made. The Coalition had called for the development of a National Renewable Energy Strategy (relating to low-impact renewable electricity/green power) in co- operation with the Provinces, Territories and other stakeholders, as put forward in the Clean Air Renewable Energy Coalition's "Visions for a Low- Impact Renewable Energy Future for Canada" (see website). The Coalition is hopeful that the Martin government will direct appropriate departments to initiate this strategy development nonetheless.

The lack of any WPPI enhancement signals Provinces and Territories considering the implementation of Renewable Portfolio Standards or other mechanisms that the Federal government expects other levels of government to take the lead.

"Without incentives or mechanisms for renewable energy technologies, green power investors, companies interested in acquiring green power, and consumers at large will not be persuaded that the Federal government sees a legitimate role for green power to compete with conventional power in the national electricity marketplace," stated John Keating, CEO of Calgary-based Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc.

Over the past few years, members of the Clean Air Renewable Energy Coalition have stressed that investments in green power will harvest: regional creation of jobs; new capital investment; opportunities for domestic manufacturing and project management know- how; more diversified energy sources; international competitiveness; rewards for cleaner air and related benefits; as well as greenhouse gas emission reductions.

"For too long, low-impact renewable electricity/green power has been relegated to a "niche" status. Unfortunately, with the lack of Budget initiatives today, the niche status remains," noted Ken Ogilive, Executive Director of Pollution Probe.

The Clean Air Renewable Energy Coalition is a group of corporate, environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) and municipal governments launched late in 2000 to accelerate the development of Canada's low-impact renewable energy industry. The group is comprised of fourteen corporations, five environmental organizations and the Federal of Canadian Municipalities (see listing below). The Coalition is mutually supportive of existing activities and organizations advocating and promoting low-impact renewable energy in Canada.

(1) These include the following technologies (not a comprehensive list): solar photovoltaic technologies, wind power, geothermal energy, biomass, run- of-river, micro and mini-hydro technologies and other low impact renewables described under the EcoLogo definition from Environment Canada.

AIM PowerGen Corporation - AXOR - BC Hydro - BP Canada Energy Company -

Benign Energy Canada Inc. - Canadian Hydro Developers - Enbridge - ENMAX -

Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Friends of the Earth - Hydro

Quebec - International Institute for Sustainable Development - Ontario

Power Generation Inc. - Pembina Institute - Pollution Probe - Shell

Canada Limited. Suncor Energy Inc. - Toronto Atmospheric Fund - Toronto

Environmental Alliance (TEA) - Toronto Hydro

Inc., 403-298-0251 (office); Ken Ogilvie, Executive Director, Pollution Probe, 416-926-1907 (ext 231) (office), 416-697-4277 (cell); Also, visit our website at www.cleanairrenewableen ergycoalition.com/ ST: AlbertaSU: LEG