Fossil fuel and nuclear…

Fossil fuel and nuclear-based energy are not only dangerous for the environment but also put communities and workers' health under threat. The ownership and control of the energy system is so centralized that I and most people I talk to feel like we do not have a say in decision that directly impact our well-being and the future of this planet and province for our children. As a researcher and PhD student working in the field of renewables, I support, based on scientific evidence, a flexible, reliable, ecological and democratic energy system that is 100% renewable, decentralized, and owned by Ontarians.

I want Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP) to set the goals, actions and timelines for such a transition. We need to see a comprehensive plan that switching to 100% renewable energy is a viable option for Ontario’s energy future.

More and more municipalities, countries and companies are well along in their planning to transition to 100% renewable energy. Ontario’s next energy plan should put policies in place to enable citizens, communities and Indigenous communities to go 100% renewable.

To fight climate change and reduce our environmental footprint, Ontario’s next energy plan must make conservation and efficiency the first priority for all energy decisions. This principle has to apply to our buildings, institutions, industries and transportation systems.

The new plan should also provide financial support to Ontarians that are facing energy poverty. Nobody should choose between food and electricity or heating.

A recent government study* showed we have the potential to cost-effectively reduce electricity demand by 30% by 2035.  I think the government should pursue and promote all cost-effective conservation measures.

I want Ontario to continue to be a leader in the green energy transition.

I’m extremely proud of Ontario’s leadership in phasing out coal and increasing energy from renewable sources, and I would like to see Ontario maintain its reputation as a climate leader.

I am concerned that three-quarters of our energy use still comes from fossil fuels, which are directly contributing to climate change. I believe we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels by encouraging adoption of electric vehicles, and investing in public transit and green district heating technologies.

Ontario should also ensure we take advantage of emerging innovations in clean technology, such as smart grids, and storage.

Ontario’s Long-term Energy Plan should prioritize community groups and Municipalities as well as First Nations & Métis communities to become energy producers, with special consideration given to communities who suffered from long years of nearby fossil-fuel plants.

Government policies like the Feed In Tariff program have allowed communities to participate in and benefit from renewable energy production, which has led to a number of important and tangible benefits.**

I want Ontario to continue to ensure citizens and communities have opportunities to own and participate in renewable energy projects.

I am concerned about the impacts of climate change, and the probability of increasing erratic weather events such as ice storms, flooding and severe heat.

In order to reliably keep the lights on, I believe Ontario should strengthen our local power production and distribution systems, and rely less on large centralized power plants.

I am concerned with Ontario’s heavy reliance on a bulk energy supply from small number of large nuclear plants, and I believe decreasing our reliance on nuclear will lead to a more flexible, more cost-effective energy supply in the long run.

I want Ontario to empower local communities with the tools they need to go 100% renewable.

Thank you very much for taking the time to consider and review public input into Ontario’s next Long Term Energy Plan.

Sincerely,

M. Derya Tarhan

*Source: Achievable Potential Study: Long Term Analysis, submitted to IESO on June 30, 2016. **TREC’s “Power of Community” report commissioned polling and economic modelling data to find that community owned renewable energy projects in Ontario have generated $2 in economic activity for every $1 spend on the projects, created twice as many jobs as industry-owned projects, increased grid resiliency and reliability, and enhanced public support for renewable energy. Read the report at: trec.on.ca/report/the-power-of-community/

[Original Comment ID: 205169]