Read the accompanying analysis of the economic impact of increased energy efficiency produced by the Centre for Spatial Economics, one of Ontario's top economic forecasters.
Don't let nuclear projects blow your electricity bills through the roof
While the rest of the world turns its back on high cost, high risk nuclear, Ontario energy planners are calling for billions to be spent on new and refurbished nuclear units. Read more about this in our new pamphlet and order some for distribution.
Ontario now has a significant surplus of coal-free electricity. We do not need to wait three more years to finish the coal phase out.
According to OCAA's revised report,Finishing the coal phase-out: An historic opportunity for climate leadership, Ontario’s coal-free generation capacity is now 29% greater than the province’s projected peak day demand in the summer of 2012 and 35% greater than its forecast peak day demand in 2014. As a consequence, we no longer need our dirty coal plants to keep the lights on in Ontario or to ensure a reliable electricity supply.
Meanwhile, Ontario Power Generation has been paid close to a billion dollars to keep unneeded coal plants open. Send a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty asking him to shutdown unnecessary coal units today!
OPG is seeking permission from the Ontario Energy Board to raise its rates commencing March 2011 to start paying for the Darlington Re-Build project. According to OPG, its proposal to extend the operating life of Darlington by 30 years will cost $8.5 to $14 billion. However, as this OCAA report notes, every single nuclear project in Ontario’s history has gone over budget and the actual costs of Ontario’s nuclear projects have been 2.5 times greater than the original cost estimates.
This updated factsheet summarizes the Ontario Power Authority's spending on new supply sources compared to its spending on efficiency and conservation methods. OPA has entered contracts for 18,137 megawatts (MW) of electricity supply yet its conservation and demand management programs are reducing demand in 2010 by approximately 1,105 MW. For every MW of demand reduction that it has reported, the OPA has contracted for 16 MW of electricity supply.
Powerful Options: A review of Ontario’s options for replacing aging nuclear plants
This new report discusses how hydro-electricity imports from Quebec and the development of the Lower Churchill Falls Project in Labrador can replace Ontario’s aging nuclear. In fact, it finds that Ontario has a number of viable options for replacing nuclear that are available now at a lower cost than building new nuclear reactors.
Higher Profits and Lower Bills: A New Electricity Strategy for Hydro Quebec
Hydro Quebec’s profits will fall by 24% and its rates will rise by 8% according to this new report released by Equiterre and the Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA). Having developed all of the province’s low-cost hydro-electric resources, Hydro Quebec can no longer increase its profits and lower its rates by building new low-cost hydro facilities.
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