Queen’s Park outlines new energy-generation plan

WINDSOR, ONT. — The Ontario government has released its plan to develop energy infrastructure in the province to meet increasing demand for electricity in the 2030s and 2040s.

The program, released by Energy Minister Todd Smith July 10 and called Powering Ontario’s Growth, includes nuclear, hydroelectricity, wind, solar, hydroelectric, batteries and biogas generation as well as three new transmission lines. The province is also working with the steel industry to end coal use and electrify its operations to support the production of green steel in Hamilton and Sault Ste. Marie, stated a release.

Smith commented, “Powering Ontario’s Growth lays out the province’s plan to build the clean electricity generation, storage and transmission we need to power the next major international investment, the new homes we are building, and industries as they grow and electrify.”

Details of the plan include:

Nuclear energy – Supporting nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power and three additional small modular reactors at Darlington.
Other new procurement – Starting to plan for the next long-term competitive procurement of non-emitting electricity resources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, batteries and biogas.
New transmission infrastructure – Designating three new transmission lines that will support Algoma Steel and other needs in northern Ontario, and one new transmission line across Eastern Ontario.
Hydroelectric power – Asking OPG to optimize hydroelectric generation from current sites and working with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to assess two proposed pumped hydroelectric storage projects in Marmora and Meaford to improve grid efficiency.
Reducing costs – Starting planning for a new round of energy efficiency programming in Ontario to reduce demand and supporting distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar and the EV batteries.
Planning for future transmission – Directing the IESO to report back to the minister with transmission options for Toronto and northern Ontario.