What principles should the…

What principles should the government provide to the OEB to help inform the Board’s ongoing development of natural gas connection policies?

The Ontario government should make sure that home consumers pay the real cost of natural gas without subsidization by government to Enbridge in any form.

What role should natural gas play in supporting energy affordability and customer choice in residential and small commercial applications (e.g., space and water heating)?

Natural gas should in the future play far less of a role in supporting affordability and customer choice in residential and small commercial applications. The use of natural gas by residential and small commercial application consumers results in the significant emission of methane and CO2 when sent to and used by such consumers. The current and long-term cost of such emissions to such consumers is staggering. Hydro electric and renewable source electricity provide cheaper space and water heating both in the short run and the long run.

What role should natural gas play in supporting economic development in Ontario’s industrial and agricultural sectors, including those processes that may be difficult to electrify?

It should be phased out.

What role should the government play in supporting and expediting the rational expansion of the natural gas system to make home heating more affordable and support economic growth in communities that are seeking natural gas service?

Government should play no role in supporting and expediting expansion of the natural gas system. Enbridge should pay for its routes through municipalities at fair market value and pay for its own construction without government subsidy. Enbridge should compete on a level playing field with other energy sources such as hydro or electricity from renewables that are cheaper in the long run. New Developments and Re-developments to build housing should be discouraged by the Planning Act process from assuming natural gas will be available and subsidized. Energy audits should be required on all municipal applications for new Development or Re-development to establish that the GHG emissions of a re-development will be less than current emissions for the site and new Development emissions will be as low as possible.

Ontario should pay close attention to the examples of Europe and China in building renewable energy sources at lower and lower costs.

For natural gas expansion projects receiving government support, should the approvals processes be streamlined to support affordable home heating for Ontarians? In what ways?

The approvals process for natural gas expansion projects should not be streamlined. Instead affordable home heating using efficient hydro and renewable sourced electricity should be given a fair chance to compete with Enbridge.

What role should natural gas play in supporting power system security and resiliency?

Natural gas should be phased out of the power system because it will be too expensive in the future when the cost of climate catastrophe and health damage is considered.

What role should natural gas play in offsetting higher GHG-emitting fuel sources?

Natural gas should play no role in offsetting other high emitting fuel sources because it is high emitting. Rather lower GHG emitting sources than natural gas should play the major role.

What are the challenges and opportunities for enhanced energy efficiency, adoption of clean fuels (e.g., RNG, Hydrogen) and emission reduction methods (e.g., carbon capture and storage) to lower emissions in the natural gas system?

The natural gas system should be phased out or at least discouraged. Clean fuels are less necessary if people in Ontario use less natural gas.