Canada is already sitting on some of the world's largest reserves of oil and natural gas, and almost unlimited potential for hydroelectric power, but its state governments are turning to wind power as a clean and easy solution to the world's coming energy crisis.
Quite unexpectedly, the federal government, with a minority of seats in parliament, promised last week to quadruple its support for wind power. At the same time, Quebec committed itself to a massive windmill power project that would double Canada's output of wind energy.
Quebec's premier, Jean Charest, said the development of eight wind turbine farms in eastern Quebec would make his province a leader in wind power and a world leader in hydroelectricity.
Despite this new enthusiasm, Canada has a long way to go before it is recognised as a serious player in the development and use of wind power. Even in Quebec, wind power accounts for less than 3 per cent of the province's electricity.
Across Canada, wind power and other renewable energy account for 1 per cent of energy production. By contrast, Denmark gets 16 per cent of its electric power from wind and Germany gets 6 per cent.
The difficulties of wind power are perhaps one reason why Ontario is planning to order a diet of high-octane alcohol for the province's motor vehicles in the hope that it will save petrol consumption and clean up the environment.