The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce is calling for a deferral in the provincial cap and trade program.
Officials say on top of high electricity costs, cap and trade puts investment and expansion decisions at risk for local greenhouse operators.
The greenhouse industry says cap and trade will be devastating.
“This is going to devastate us as a company,” says Gerry Mastronardi, a Leaminton greenhouse operator.
The cost to the average greenhouse farmer will be $80,000 in 2017, that will jump to $220,000 by 2020.
“We are looking at expanding, having said that, with this new cap and trade, I've put everything on hold because at end of day, I won't be in threshold,”says Mastronardi.
