Ontario’s clean power plan that’s ‘not really a plan’

A new electricity roadmap released by the Ontario government mentions some development of renewables, but critics say there is very little substance to the plan.

As far as Keith Brooks, programs director at Environmental Defence, is concerned, “it’s not really a plan.” He notes the federal government has a clear goal of achieving net-zero electricity across Canada by 2035. However, Ontario’s only mention of net zero is when referring to the need to up its nuclear power.

The roadmap, unveiled Monday, “doesn't forecast what kind of a supply mix Ontario is going to have in the future. It doesn't make a commitment to net zero in any year ... it doesn't really forecast and talk about the price of electricity going forward because it's not forward-looking,” he said.

“It is an after-the-fact rationalization for decisions that this government has made in recent months without much public oversight.”

Last week, the government announced a new large-scale nuclear plant at Bruce Power on the shore of Lake Huron along with three new small modular reactors at the site of the Darlington nuclear plant east of Toronto. This follows the Progressive Conservative government cancelling 750 clean energy contracts, including a wind farm already under construction in Prince Edward County, during its first term, which cost the government $231 million.

After the Bruce Power announcement, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, composed of the Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, said they will not support any new projects on their territory until there is a solution to storing Canada’s nuclear waste.

The nuclear plant, which would be the province’s largest nuclear power project in more than 30 years, needs environmental approval from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, meaning even if it is approved, it won’t be opening any time soon. The Ontario government said large-scale nuclear power projects typically have a lead time "of a decade or more," which Brooks stresses is too far in the future to address the current climate crisis and the immediate need to reduce emissions.

While nuclear energy doesn’t use fossil fuels to generate electricity, opponents say energy sources like solar and wind are cheaper, don’t produce harmful nuclear waste and can be deployed much quicker than nuclear.

However, gas is a planet-warming fossil fuel and in May, Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) announced new proposals had been accepted to build two new gas-fired plants in the province. The operator also said six existing gas plants will be expanding their generating capacity.

The province’s greenhouse gas emissions from its gas plants are set to increase by over 400 per cent by 2030 compared to 2017 emission levels, the IESO projects.

Powering Ontario’s Growth is meant to address increasing energy demand in the province, said Energy Minister Todd Smith. During the announcement, he said the IESO is predicting electricity demand in the province could double by 2050.

In the plan’s breakdown of the “Top 10 things to know,” it lists new nuclear, advancing pumped hydroelectric storage, planning for the future of energy efficiency programs and “starting planning for Ontario’s next competitive electricity procurement focused on new clean resources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, batteries and biogas.”

“Our government’s open-for-business approach has resulted in unprecedented investments and job creation, from electric vehicles and battery manufacturing to critical minerals to green steel,” said Smith.

“Powering Ontario’s Growth lays out the province’s plan to build the clean electricity generation, storage, and transmission we need to power the next major international investment, the new homes we are building, and industries as they grow and electrify.”

The plan doesn’t lay out a pathway for clean energy generation, says Lana Goldberg, Ontario climate program manager at Environmental Defence.

“It’s a plan to keep critics at bay while the province keeps polluting and using antiquated and dangerous technologies,” said Goldberg.

“No matter how many wind and solar options are promised for some point in the distant future, building new polluting gas plants and new nuclear facilities now is unacceptable.”

Looking at the concrete actions the province has taken, nuclear and natural gas seem to be where it’s hinging much of its energy future. Goldberg said there is “no reason to build new gas plants or nuclear power projects when we have cleaner, cheaper and safer alternatives.”

In response to the release of the plan, the Canadian Climate Institute said it is an “essential vision for electricity,” but that its intentions around expanding gas are concerning.

“The plan is silent on whether the province intends to construct new gas-fired generation facilities. The province should avoid building new gas plants since cost-effective alternatives are available, and such facilities are likely to end up as stranded assets,” said Jason Dion, senior research director with the Canadian Climate Institute.

“The province’s timeline for reaching net-zero generation is also unclear. Canada and other G7 countries have set a target for 2035, something Ontario will need to address if it wants to remain competitive.”

The Green Party of Ontario said the plan moved the province in the wrong direction.

“With this backwards approach, the Ford government is squandering a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Ontario a global leader in attracting investment dollars and creating better jobs in the trillion-dollar clean energy sector,” said Green Leader Mike Schreiner.

“The road to a cleaner, greener Ontario is clear. But the Ford government is asleep at the wheel — hurting consumers, the economy and the climate in the process.”

— With files from The Canadian Press