Can Ontario keep up with Canada's clean energy targets?
Tell feds to ensure clean electricity in Ontario
Premier Doug Ford's plans to build new gas plants for electricity generation would be a disaster for the climate and affordable energy. There are cleaner and cheaper options to build a net-zero power grid for the province by 2035, in line with Canada's target for 100 per cent clean electricity.
The regulation loophole and emission risks
The upcoming federal Clean Electricity Regulations present an opportunity to forge a path to a net-zero power grid by 2035, aligning with Canada's vision for a century marked by 100 per cent clean electricity.
However, there's a catch: these regulations currently overlook gas plants built before 2025, a loophole that Ontario seems eager to exploit.
The stakes are high, as projections from the Independent Electricity System Operator are startling: emissions from Ontario's electricity sector could surge by up to 400 per cent by 2030 and a staggering 600 per cent by 2040. This is climate foolishness — a step backward in our marathon toward a sustainable future.
Canada's Clean Energy Commitment
Canada is on the path to a 100 per cent net-zero-emitting electricity system by 2035. This commitment is being tested as Ontario's plans threaten to derail this initiative.
The federal government's immediate action is imperative. Policymakers must refine the Clean Electricity Regulations to eliminate the possibility of new gas-power plants in Ontario. What's needed is a robust framework that mandates zero carbon emissions from power plants by 2035 and implements stringent guidelines for emission reductions in the interim.
It's a monumental task requiring citizens to voice their concerns and demand action. The future of clean electricity in Ontario — and Canada — hangs in the balance. It's a future that can be bright, sustainable, and prosperous, but only if the loop is closed, sealing the fate of gas plants and cementing a commitment to clean energy.
As the deadline for public comments draws near, voices must be heard. The message is clear: for a cleaner, greener Ontario, the expansion of gas plants must be reconsidered, and clean energy must pave the way forward.
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