I encourage the Minister to…

I encourage the Minister to initiate changes to the OBC (Ontario Building Code) so that – starting as soon as possible – all new detached and semi-detached housing starts MUST have between 1000 W and 2000 W (1 kW to 2 kW) of Solar PV installed on a Net Metered arrangement (or some reasonable % of building area). Further, all building permits should adhere to some expected level of electrical energy efficiency.

Conservation First

There is a conflict of interest with the current Energy Conservation programs being administered by IESO as LDC’s are of the energy delivery mindset that even the CDM reduction target incentives will fail in persuading. As such, decisions made by IESO/LDC’s lead one to believe real change towards true energy efficiency is stymied in-favour of higher energy options.

To really drive home the Conservation First message, I encourage the Minister to impose penalties equivalent to the incentives provided by LDC CDM Target and Budget Allocations such that if energy reduction targets are not met verbatim, LDC’s will be fined the equivalent of double the reward. Currently most LDC’s are not focused on energy conservation and the IESO has an inherent build-more mindset based on ever increasing energy demand.

I also encourage the Minister to support development of advance energy processing systems for commercial/industrial buildings with flat roofs that can easily accommodate roof top solar PV.

Avoid Top Down Centralized Planning

I encourage the Minister to stop using only top down models based on centralized energy and delivery plans with ever increasing base load. The OPO data shows the past decade increased slightly but when exports are considered it decreased. Unfortunately the OPO does not include clear import/export data therefore a true picture of provincial energy ebb and flow is unknown.

Community Power

Encourage Sustainable Development by mandating the IESO and the LDCs to allow Community Power. Communities must be permitted to act independently and develop their own low-carbon energy systems that support their own local economy. The goal should be to move towards regional and community energy self-sufficiency. This can be achieved – if allowed and encouraged – and it will serve to benefit the existing infrastructure by reducing line losses; a win-win for all.

An integrated approach must be permitted such that privately-owned, DG, energy conservation, storage, and community energy self-sufficiency can flourish. These will all be integral to the future distribution and transmission systems therefore steps must be taken now in LTEP 2017 to prepare the grid for islands of power input.

Bio Energy is largely ignored in the planning documents yet there is great potential in all parts of Ontario and those communities that already have systems connected need billing adjustments made so they are not treated as consumers. Encourage Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants thereby maximizing efficiency and flexibility.

[Original Comment ID: 207096]