A 21st century energy strategy

The Toronto Star
November 5, 2008
Jack Gibbons

A 21st century energy strategy
Re: On conservation, Ontario energy czar condescends, Nov. 1

Ontario Power Authority bureaucrats are proposing to build a large, high-cost, gas-fired power plant in northern York Region that will have an energy efficiency of only 36 per cent. In contrast, a government regulation prohibits homeowners from purchasing gas furnaces that are less than 80 per cent efficient. 

At their summit meeting, Energy Minister George Smitherman and the northern York Region mayors have the opportunity to develop an alternative electricity strategy that is consistent with the spirit of the greenbelt legislation and the proposed Lake Simcoe Protection Act.

That is, a balanced plan consisting of an integrated combination of energy efficiency and demand management, biomass power, geothermal energy, wind and solar power and small-scale, super-efficient natural gas-fired combined heat and power plants.

With strong and visionary leadership from Minister Smitherman, we can create a smart 21st century electricity plan for northern York Region that will be a model for a green Ontario – not to mention a far better use of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Jack Gibbons, Chair, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Toronto