If this province is serious…

If this province is serious about mitigating the causes of global warming, the current government’s perception that renewables can only play a minor role must change, and the LTEP should entail a complete transition to renewable energy within the next 33 years. Thousands of cities and communities world wide, including Vancouver and Oxford County, have committed to this transition by 2050.

Getting rid of coal was an excellent first step, but replacing this with natural gas instead of renewable energy is the wrong direction. Ongoing dependence on fossil fuel generating plants only increases carbon pollution and nuclear, which is now being abandoned world wide, is likewise a much more expensive and dangerous option. Your perception that we should wait for the cost of renewable energy to decline further also doesn't make sense. The maintenance of aging nuclear reactors will ultimately cost a great deal more than renewables. The price for solar, wind and biomass technology has fallen substantially and continues to decline rapidly, so increasing our reliance on renewable energy will ultimately lead to lower electricity bills.

This government should provide Ontarians with a fair comparison of all costs associated with nuclear vs renewables and then permit the public to indicate which approach they prefer. Don’t allow lobbyists for the nuclear industry, the shareholders of companies like TransCanada, or the Power Workers Union to influence the decisions you make. Financial analysts state we should invest in renewables now. This could include an investment in the infrastructure required to transmit low cost hydro electricity from Quebec to Ontario. Citibank recently said the world has entered the "age of renewables", and Bank of America and General Motors have committed to going 100% renewable.

Finally, the old tendency to mostly rely on large power producers instead of a more localized generation of electricity must also change. Empowering small businesses, municipalities, and first nations would result in more employment, healthier communities and a more balanced approach to power generation.

[Original Comment ID: 206410]