New Ontario government energy strategy opts for ‘all of the above’ approach

TORONTO — The Ontario government has released a paper outlining its strategy for guiding the province to meet future energy challenges, such as a forecasted increase in demand for electricity of 75 per cent by 2050.

The report, titled Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power, was released Oct. 22.

The government also announced it will release the province’s first integrated energy plan with a horizon out to 2050, intended to ensure the energy sector is aligned behind the government’s plan to reduce costs and emissions.

“Ontario’s energy policy will literally determine the success of our province, today and for the next generation,” stated Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce in a release. “Our competitive all-of-the-above approach will deliver more affordable power to our families, with non-emitting nuclear energy as our anchor, to keep costs and emissions down without a costly and unnecessary carbon tax.”

The report states the province needs to co-ordinate all energy resources, including electricity, natural gas and other fuels such as gasoline, to ensure that the province’s energy needs are anticipated and met in a co-ordinated and long-term manner, anchored by nuclear energy.

“Ontario’s plan needs to anchor energy affordability as a main driver in planning decisions by driving savings through competition, unlike previous governments that were driven by ideology,” the report states.

The paper rejects a carbon tax.

Instead, “Ontario will meet its emission reduction targets with affordable and clean power that supports families and businesses to move away from higher emitting sources of energy.”

The government will launch an expansion of energy efficiency programs on Jan. 1, 2025.

Ontario should build on its competitive advantages, the paper states, and export clean energy and technology to the world.

The government said it intends to introduce legislation that will support the implementation of the new energy plan.

The report stated increasing electricity demand stems primarily from Ontario’s rapid increase in population, new manufacturing facilities, advanced technologies like data centres, the electrification of industry, and the charging energy required for electric vehicles. Industrial electricity demand is set to increase by 50 per cent in the next five years.