The road to Ontario’s economic future is paved with “clean” electricity, providing reliable and inexpensive power for people and businesses, according to a long-term planning document released Monday.But the 86-page document leaves a big question unanswered: how clean is clean?While repeatedly emphasizing how carbon-free electricity has attracted industrial and manufacturing investment to Ontario, and will help households and companies cut their carbon emissions by electrifying their heating and transportation, the Progressive Conservative government’s first comprehensive electricity planning document doesn’t say if the system will go entirely to net-zero emissions, a requirement to avoid the worst effects of climate change.With demand for power on the rise for the first time since 2005, the report, titled “Powering Ontario’s Growth,” lays out the government’s vision for the grid between now and 2050, setting in motion several long-term projects that could take a decade or more to come to fruition, including pumped-hydro storage and Canada’s first new full-scale nuclear plant in 30 years. The plan also includes shorter-term objectives, including upgraded transmission lines and more support for energy efficiency.“It’s great to see the government recognizing how much investment really is reliant on clean energy,” said Rachel Doran, director of policy and strategy at Clean Energy Canada. “What’s missing is we need to know the end goal. Clarity on net-zero objectives are essential.”Net zero is generally accepted to involve cutting greenhouse gas emissions as close to zero as possible and using offsets to get the rest of the way. Making a net-zero pledge is becoming standard for governments and businesses around the world, Doran said.“Net zero is something that businesses are embracing,” she said. “They put forward a 2050 commitment or a 2045 commitment and they build a plan on how to get there. I think it’s helpful for governments to use the same tools.”Ninety-two per cent of global GDP is covered by a net-zero commitment, according to Net Zero Tracker. The Science Based Targets Initiative says one-third of companies trading on all stock exchanges have one, too.The federal government was elected on a promise to achieve net-zero electricity from coast to coast by 2035, and has made it a condition for accessing billions of dollars in clean energy tax credits, announced in this spring’s budget. “Wouldn’t this have been a good opportunity for them to make a net-zero commitment?” said Keith Brooks, program director at Environmental Defence, pointing to a section of the plan that says the federal credits will lower the cost of new generation in Ontario.Brooks criticized the plan for lacking specific targets for how much of each kind of generation — nuclear, hydro, gas and renewables — will be needed in the future, and no cost estimates for what will be a massive build-out of the system, one that envisions doubling the amount of power available by 2050.“This looks like an after-the-fact rationalization for recent decisions this government has made to build new nuclear and new gas plants,” he said.Last week, Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith made back-to-back announcements for new small modular reactors at Darlington and Canada’s first new full-scale nuclear build since the early 1990s at Bruce. This came several months after the province announced expansions and upgrades at natural gas plants across the province to meet rising peak demand. (Ontario also announced battery storage projects that will pair with renewables to provide more carbon-free power on demand.)Asked why the electricity plan didn’t include a commitment to net zero, energy minister spokesperson Palmer Lockridge emailed a statement saying the province will continue to have “one of the cleanest electricity grids in Canada and the world.”He said the long timelines required to get new infrastructure built, exacerbated by federal government requirements for assessments of environmental, social, economic, cultural and heritage impacts, are holding up clean energy investments.“The largest barrier to achieving a zero-emissions electricity system in Ontario remains the federal government’s Impact Assessment Act, because it can’t take a decade to site new clean electricity generation,” Lockridge wrote.The province’s electricity plan includes two pumped-water energy storage projects, expanded energy efficiency programs and support for rooftop solar and bidirectional charging for electric vehicles, so they can feed energy into the grid. It also mentions new high-voltage transmission lines across the province — considered essential for moving power from where it’s generated to where it’s needed. They include one into downtown Toronto, several in southwestern Ontario to connect London, Windsor and Sarnia, and more to support clean steel in Sault Ste. Marie and industry in Timmins and in Ottawa.When Premier Doug Ford was first elected in 2018, he spent $231 million to cancel more than 700 clean energy projects and eliminated the electric vehicle (EV) purchase subsidy. With no new renewables coming online, the electricity system has come to rely more heavily on natural gas, driving up emissions. As the global market for EVs has taken off, Ford’s government has come to herald Ontario’s “clean energy advantage” as a way to reverse the exodus of industry from Ontario, securing new battery and EV manufacturing plants, and the thousands of jobs that come with them.And Monday’s electricity document, subtitled: “Ontario’s Plan for a Clean Energy Future,” appears to be Ford’s first tentative step back into investment in clean energy.“This is the first time a Ford government energy document mentions wind and solar and is not dismissive of it,” said Richard Carlson, director of energy policy at Pollution Probe. Once the current gas and storage procurements are finished in 2026, the plan would have the province’s electricity system operator launch a new round of requests for proposals for “non-emitting energy technologies such as wind, solar, hydroelectric and biogas.”Taking into account the time to receive bids, pick a proponent and construct a project, this likely means no new renewables will be operational until 2030, he said.“It’s still a ways away,” said Carlson. “But it looks like the Ford government is opening the door to renewables.”Marco Chown Oved is a Toronto-based reporter covering climate change for the Star. Reach him via email: moved@thestar.ca
The road to Ontario’s economic future is paved with “clean” electricity, providing reliable and inexpensive power for people and businesses, according to a long-term planning document released Monday.
But the 86-page document leaves a big question unanswered: how clean is clean?
While repeatedly emphasizing how carbon-free electricity has attracted industrial and manufacturing investment to Ontario, and will help households and companies cut their carbon emissions by electrifying their heating and transportation, the Progressive Conservative government’s first comprehensive electricity planning document doesn’t say if the system will go entirely to net-zero emissions, a requirement to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
With demand for power on the rise for the first time since 2005, the report, titled “Powering Ontario’s Growth,” lays out the government’s vision for the grid between now and 2050, setting in motion several long-term projects that could take a decade or more to come to fruition, including pumped-hydro storage and Canada’s first new full-scale nuclear plant in 30 years. The plan also includes shorter-term objectives, including upgraded transmission lines and more support for energy efficiency.
“It’s great to see the government recognizing how much investment really is reliant on clean energy,” said Rachel Doran, director of policy and strategy at Clean Energy Canada. “What’s missing is we need to know the end goal. Clarity on net-zero objectives are essential.”
Net zero is generally accepted to involve cutting greenhouse gas emissions as close to zero as possible and using offsets to get the rest of the way.
Making a net-zero pledge is becoming standard for governments and businesses around the world, Doran said.
“Net zero is something that businesses are embracing,” she said. “They put forward a 2050 commitment or a 2045 commitment and they build a plan on how to get there. I think it’s helpful for governments to use the same tools.”
Ninety-two per cent of global GDP is covered by a net-zero commitment, according to Net Zero Tracker. The Science Based Targets Initiative says one-third of companies trading on all stock exchanges have one, too.
The federal government was elected on a promise to achieve net-zero electricity from coast to coast by 2035, and has made it a condition for accessing billions of dollars in clean energy tax credits, announced in this spring’s budget.
“Wouldn’t this have been a good opportunity for them to make a net-zero commitment?” said Keith Brooks, program director at Environmental Defence, pointing to a section of the plan that says the federal credits will lower the cost of new generation in Ontario.
Brooks criticized the plan for lacking specific targets for how much of each kind of generation — nuclear, hydro, gas and renewables — will be needed in the future, and no cost estimates for what will be a massive build-out of the system, one that envisions doubling the amount of power available by 2050.
“This looks like an after-the-fact rationalization for recent decisions this government has made to build new nuclear and new gas plants,” he said.
Last week, Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith made back-to-back announcements for new small modular reactors at Darlington and Canada’s first new full-scale nuclear build since the early 1990s at Bruce. This came several months after the province announced expansions and upgrades at natural gas plants across the province to meet rising peak demand. (Ontario also announced battery storage projects that will pair with renewables to provide more carbon-free power on demand.)
Asked why the electricity plan didn’t include a commitment to net zero, energy minister spokesperson Palmer Lockridge emailed a statement saying the province will continue to have “one of the cleanest electricity grids in Canada and the world.”
He said the long timelines required to get new infrastructure built, exacerbated by federal government requirements for assessments of environmental, social, economic, cultural and heritage impacts, are holding up clean energy investments.
“The largest barrier to achieving a zero-emissions electricity system in Ontario remains the federal government’s Impact Assessment Act, because it can’t take a decade to site new clean electricity generation,” Lockridge wrote.
The province’s electricity plan includes two pumped-water energy storage projects, expanded energy efficiency programs and support for rooftop solar and bidirectional charging for electric vehicles, so they can feed energy into the grid. It also mentions new high-voltage transmission lines across the province — considered essential for moving power from where it’s generated to where it’s needed. They include one into downtown Toronto, several in southwestern Ontario to connect London, Windsor and Sarnia, and more to support clean steel in Sault Ste. Marie and industry in Timmins and in Ottawa.
When Premier Doug Ford was first elected in 2018, he spent $231 million to cancel more than 700 clean energy projects and eliminated the electric vehicle (EV) purchase subsidy. With no new renewables coming online, the electricity system has come to rely more heavily on natural gas, driving up emissions.
As the global market for EVs has taken off, Ford’s government has come to herald Ontario’s “clean energy advantage” as a way to reverse the exodus of industry from Ontario, securing new battery and EV manufacturing plants, and the thousands of jobs that come with them.
And Monday’s electricity document, subtitled: “Ontario’s Plan for a Clean Energy Future,” appears to be Ford’s first tentative step back into investment in clean energy.
“This is the first time a Ford government energy document mentions wind and solar and is not dismissive of it,” said Richard Carlson, director of energy policy at Pollution Probe.
Once the current gas and storage procurements are finished in 2026, the plan would have the province’s electricity system operator launch a new round of requests for proposals for “non-emitting energy technologies such as wind, solar, hydroelectric and biogas.”
Taking into account the time to receive bids, pick a proponent and construct a project, this likely means no new renewables will be operational until 2030, he said.
“It’s still a ways away,” said Carlson. “But it looks like the Ford government is opening the door to renewables.”
Marco Chown Oved is a Toronto-based reporter covering climate change for the Star. Reach him via email: moved@thestar.ca
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