I'm writing on behalf of a…

I'm writing on behalf of a non-profit citizen organization in Ontario.

Given the rapidly changing global approaches to energy conservation, electricity generation, and bold international recommendations and actions to reduce carbon emissions to address climate change, this is a very important time for Ontario to review and rethink the policy direction on the long term role of natural gas in the province’s energy system. Long Term cost considerations, promoting and expanding energy conservation, and efficient use of current energy infrastructure is a vital component in setting direction and policy.

We commend the Ministry of Energy and Electrification for providing this opportunity to the public, Indigenous communities and various stakeholders to comment on ERO Posting: 019-9501.

As a citizen organization we recognize the pressing need to address the earth’s changing climate, the important work of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the central and very effective role of the natural environment in sequestering carbon.

Policy direction regarding natural gas needs to be based on a strong provincial commitment to reduce future fossil fuel emissions from burning natural gas beginning today. We believe it is not wise in meeting climate action goals, nor cost effective to further expand natural gas infrastructure or build new gas-fired power plants. We recognize that transition in the energy system takes good forward-looking planning and time. We understand that there are currently a sizeable number of newer natural gas generating facilities in operation in Ontario today. These need to be used efficiently as the province phases out the use of natural gas in generating electricity for the energy grid and in heating houses and larger buildings.

While natural gas currently has played an important role for heating and in generating electricity, the rapid advance of energy-efficient heat pumps for heating and cooling is very important to note. Cost savings for customers are realized immediately. We are encouraged by the recent announcement of the Ministry of Energy and Electrification to significantly expand the energy retrofit program for homes, businesses and Indigenous communities. The program includes rebate for Cold Climate Heat Pump systems and the installation of PV solar panels and storage systems.

Studies have shown that the cost of producing electricity from non-emitting and renewable solar and wind have dramatically come down, and both sources of energy have globally become the least expensive in generating electricity. Forecasts indicate that the long term costs for natural gas will continue to rise relative to solar and wind. Any expanded natural gas infrastructure including new gas generating plants that are built today with a 30-year lifetime, will very likely become stranded assets and essentially a waste of valuable dollars.

Solar and wind generating projects can be designed, constructed and connected to the Ontario energy system very quickly. Provincial planning requires policies that will allow for significant expansion of solar and wind. For example, allowing for “offshore” wind generation especially in the Great Lakes and in larger bodies of water is a key policy, as the strongest and most consistent winds in Ontario are along several shorelines. Revising policies to allow for solar arrays on many different rooftops and on marginal farmland is also very important. In addition solar and wind do not require expensive pipeline infrastructure, another sensible cost-saving for these free available non-emitting energy sources.

In addition the phase out of natural gas generation in Ontario will help significantly in helping the province and all of Canada in meeting important carbon reduction goals.

We understand the province is planning for the construction of new nuclear power plants as well as retrofitting some of the older reactors in Ontario’s nuclear fleet, and that this along with hydro is to ensure a strong baseload supply for the province. As the energy system begins to transition to include a more flexible “distributive model” for larger portions of the grid, and more and more solar and wind with storage come on stream, the phase out of large natural gas generators is wise and cost-effective.

Important to note, by reducing the use of natural gas for both generating electricity and heating homes air quality and respiratory health will improve and there will be less burden on Ontario’s health care system.

Thank you for your attention to our comments.