Nuclear power has been…

Nuclear power has been consistently uneconomical, unreliable and unsafe, and there are still no safe disposal options for spent fuel.  It was a disastrously expensive mistake. We can't afford to throw good money after bad.  Let's move Ontario toward a safe renewable future. But this time let's be smarter about how we do it. Let's think about environmentally and socially appropriate installations with community support. Just think of all the flat roofs in this province that could have solar panels on them! It's just a matter of making renewables attractive for owners and communities.

For the immediate future, and as we add renewable capacity,  it only makes good economic and environmental sense to buy hydroelectric power from Quebec, and put in the infrastructure to carry it. We need to put in a network for distributed generation, in any case. So let's be smart and do these things together.

But the main thing we need  to do is to conserve energy. It's seven times more expensive to build new power supplies than to conserve the ones we have. So we need stricter building codes as well as programs that help building owners tighten up their buildings and insulate them better.   As an example of the kinds of programs that will truly reduce energy usage: Windows leak a phenomenal amount of energy from almost every building in this province. There are wonderful programs being done in other jurisdictions to reduce energy loss from windows. Ontario could take a leadership role in stimulating small businesses to produce and install window insulation. Imagine the jobs that could result from this kind of leadership, and the happy homeowners whose energy bills go down because they are using less.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Ultimately, it is a choice, because there will never be enough resources to do both: Continue down the expensive and dangerous nuclear path, or put public funds into a safe, reliable energy future of conservation and renewables.

[Original Comment ID: 207075]