Toronto’s energy future is being treated as a low voltage issue during the current municipal election campaign, despite the powerful impact Toronto’s energy choices will have on electricity bills, public health and the city’s climate goals.
Renewable Energy Can Lower Costs
By advancing renewable energy, the next city council can improve affordability and the quality of life for everyone in Toronto. Renewable energy – like rooftop and parking lot solar – is now the lowest cost way to meet our growing need for electricity.
This “distributed” power can also save us from having to make expensive upgrades to power transmission systems because it produces power where it is used. And with batteries becoming more efficient and lower cost by the month, we can now build a climate friendly electricity system that saves everyone money.
Toronto Can Replace Its Largest Air Polluter
There’s also the issue of phasing out Toronto’s No. 1 air polluter – the Portlands gas plant on our eastern waterfront. By investing in solar and offshore wind in Lake Ontario, we can improve the health of millions of Torontonians, especially our kids.
We Asked Toronto’s Candidates Two Questions
That’s why we asked Toronto’s mayoral and council candidates two questions:
1. Should the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro develop a plan to increase local solar electricity generation by 2.8 billion kWh per year by 2030 (the equivalent of what the Portlands gas plant produced in 2024)?
2. Should Toronto Hydro undertake a preliminary feasibility study on the potential locations (near shore and far offshore) and costs and benefits of a Lake Ontario offshore wind farm?
Numerous candidates for Toronto City Council have responded positively.
To see the responses of the candidates in your ward, please click here.
Mayoral Candidates Chow, Bradford and Alexander Still Haven’t Responded
We have not yet received responses from the leading mayoral candidates Olivia Chow, Brad Bradford and Chris Alexander.
Toronto voters deserve to know whether their next mayor will support expanding solar and developing offshore wind power, to phase out polluting gas generation and lower electricity costs.