Phase-out Polluting Gas Power

Under current plans, greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution from Ontario’s gas-fired power plants will be 570-580% higher in 2030 than in 2017.

With climate change and its impacts already accelerating, including stronger storms, more flooding and fires and brutal heat waves, we cannot afford to move backwards at this critical time. We need to phase-out the use of gas for electricity generation and move to sustainable solutions, including enhanced energy efficiency efforts, tripling solar and wind power and coordination of power supply and storage with Quebec.

For more information, see our reports:

• Going in the wrong direction: Ontario’s plan to increase gas burning
• Transforming Toronto With Solar
• Parking Lot Solar
• Great Lakes wind power: Now is the time!
• Ontario’s Electricity Options: A Cost Comparison
• Heat pumps: Better than gas for heating your home
• List of ON municipalities that have called for a gas plant phase-out
• Community and environmental organizations supporting tripling solar and wind power

We have a lot of options for replacing gas-fired generation and the most effective plan is to combine them in a system that maximizes efficiency and takes advantage of our proximity to a waterpower superpower – Quebec.

We can start by restoring Ontario’s leadership in developing cost-effective energy efficiency programs and go much deeper. In particular, programs and technologies that decrease short lived spikes in peak demand are a much better choice than building expensive and polluting gas-fired peaker plants.

Improving energy efficiency is also an excellent opportunity to create jobs and spur the development of new high-value technologies. Retrofitting homes and businesses, installing new energy efficiency lighting and equipment, and developing everything from smart controls to new grid technology can drive job growth throughout the province. Gas-fired power plants are not a major source of employment, but they are a serious pollution source for both local communities and our climate. And importing more fracked gas is not going to create jobs or grow our economy.

Developing renewable energy projects right here in Ontario is another major economic opportunity. Costs for solar and wind have fallen dramatically. Ontario needs to set a target for tripling wind and solar power by 2035 in keeping with commitments made at the COP28 climate summit. The provincial government can start by lifting the unnecessary moratorium on offshore wind power in the Great Lakes. It can also support deployment of solar on buildings, parking lots, brownfield sites, and other places.

The good news is Ontario is right next door to one of the world’s biggest batteries. Quebec’s vast waterpower system can back up Ontario’s renewable power supply and help make renewable power reliably available 24/7.