January 15, 2025 Ministry of…

January 15, 2025

Ministry of Energy and Electrification
77 Grenville Street
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C1

RE: Consultation to support the important role for natural gas in Ontario’s energy system and economy

Dear Ministry of Energy and Electrification,

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, which represents 1,000 businesses in the region, has concerns that the OEB decisions that lead to Bill 165 put affordability and access to energy in question for our business community.

There’s no question that we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of reaching net-zero. Getting there is a process and introducing drastic changes over a short period of time would have a devastating effect on our economy, our cost of living, and our ability to compete.

Predictability helps business plan and invest. We would like to see a thorough plan with a timeline for the implementation of emission reduction changes.

Natural gas accounts for 40% of our province’s energy use and needs to be part of any transition. It is critical that the transition plan not show preference toward certain technologies or energy sources. Flexibility and choice are necessary for different applications, regions, and business sectors. Not every process can be reasonably swapped for an electric alternative. For example, many of our agriculture businesses require access to natural gas to dry their crops or they risk not being able to get their goods to market. Agriculture is a $116 million industry in our region. Natural gas is a necessity for many manufacturing and supply chain operations, not to mention its use to efficiently and affordably heat showrooms, tourism accommodations, and the homes of the workforce. Additionally, technology continues to make natural gas more efficient and sustainable, including advancements in Renewable Natural Gas.

We appreciate the investments Enbridge continues to make in servicing our community, including the rural areas of Peterborough County. Our $300 million tourism sector needs affordable access to energy to continue providing accommodations and services to our 3 million annual visitors.

There are already significant challenges getting enough electrical capacity for current projects and it’s simply not possible to transition away from natural gas in the short term with both existing and currently planned electrical infrastructure upgrades. We cannot replace the role of natural gas in our economy and our lives without decades of planning and investment.

Sincerely,

Joel Wiebe
Vice President, Government Relations & Operations
Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
175 George Street North
Peterborough, ON K9J 3G6
joel@pkchamber.ca
705-748-9771 x215