ETOBICOKE – The Ontario government has announced it plans to expand the province’s hydrogen energy advantage to ensure the province has affordable clean energy to build new homes and support economic growth.
As such, it is developing a number of measures, which are as follows:
- Creating a New Hydrogen Interruptible Rate Pilot: The government will direct the Independent Electricity System Operator to provide recommendations for a pilot program that would offer hydrogen producers discounted electricity rates in exchange for reducing consumption during peak demand periods.
- Exploring options to regulate hydrogen pipelines: The province is evaluating the expansion of the Ontario Energy Board’s mandate to regulate dedicated hydrogen pipelines to protect consumers, while facilitating more development of this infrastructure.
- Expanded Hydrogen Innovation Fund: Ontario previously announced a new $30 million round of funding for projects. One funding stream will support the integration of low-carbon hydrogen into the electricity grid. The other will fund projects that support the broader use of hydrogen, such as in transportation and heavy industry.
“If we’re serious about building a more self-reliant and sovereign energy future, we need to leverage every energy resource at our disposal to power our homes, businesses and economy,” said Stephen Lecce, minister of energy and mines, in a statement. “Hydrogen gives us another powerful tool in our ‘all-of-the-above’ strategy to deliver affordable, Canadian-made energy and reduce our reliance on foreign sources.”
According to Natural Resources Canada models, a hydrogen economy could create up to 135,000 jobs across Canada by 2050 in areas such as production, infrastructure, storage and clean technology development. Hydrogen could also eliminate as much as 69 megatonnes of emissions each year, the release adds.
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