100% renewable energy in our…

100% renewable energy in our province is essential if

we are to have any hope of addressing climate change.Fossil fuels must be taxed so that they reflect the true damage they cause to health and the environment.

Put Conservation First.......Neg-a-watts should be the goal. Power not needed doesn't have to be produced.

To fight climate change and reduce our environmental footprint, I think

Ontario’s next energy plan should make conservation and efficiency the first

priority for all energy decisions.

A recent government study showed we have the potential to cost-effectively

reduce electricity demand by 30% by 2035.

I think the government should pursue all cost-effective conservation.

Empower Communities and Citizens to go 100% Renewable

Ontario’s next energy plan should empower everyone from citizens and co-ops to

municipalities and First Nations to become energy producers.

Come Clean on Nuclear Costs

The biggest barrier to shifting Ontario to 100% renewable energy is the

government’s current commitment to nuclear power.

While the cost of renewables keeps declining, the cost of nuclear power has

only ever gone up. Despite this, the government’s past energy plans have made

no requirement for nuclear projects to undergo public review against

alternatives. This needs to change.

Ontario’s next energy plan needs to ensure there are a full and fair

comparisons of the total costs of nuclear with alternatives and an opportunity

for the public to have a say about which approach they prefer.

Close Pickering

Ontario’s 2013 energy plan committed to close the Pickering nuclear station

between 2017 and 2020, but earlier this year the government announced they

would renege on this promise and keep operating Pickering until 2024.

Almost all of Pickering’s output is surplus and exported to Michigan at a loss.

This is driving up energy costs.

Pickering’s continued operation also puts the public at risk. Ontario has not

updated its nuclear emergency plans since the Fukushima disaster.

I want the government to keep its promise to close Pickering before 2020.

Shutting Pickering down should be a first step in Ontario’s long-term

transition to renewable energy.

[Original Comment ID: 205721]