At a moment when reducing our dependence on American gas imports has never been more important, the Ford government is making our dependence even worse. Over the last eight years, we have significantly increased the use of American gas to generate electricity.
Today, more than 70% of the fossil gas consumed in Ontario comes from the U.S. And Enbridge announced recently that gas prices will soon surge by 25%. If ever there was a huge, potential win-win, it is by reducing our demand for this polluting fossil fuel (most of which is extra-polluting fracked gas), and creating jobs in Ontario by investing in low-cost, zero-carbon energy solutions.
Unfortunately, the Ford Government is still planning to build more gas plants that will harm air quality in our communities, impact our climate, and lock us into volatile US markets.
It has to stop. We have to get Ontario out of the American gas trap ASAP.
We can assert our energy independence in a bunch of ways:
➠. Instead of building new gas plants, let’s triple our Made-In-Ontario solar and wind power combined with batteries and other storage options. This will reduce costs, air pollution and climate damage. No new gas plants should be built anywhere in Ontario.
➠. Let’s harness the powerful, steady winds that blow across our Great Lakes by leading the way on building offshore wind capacity. Offshore wind could supply all the electricity we need from a tiny footprint in our Great Lakes. It is time for Doug Ford to rescind his political moratorium on Great Lakes offshore wind power.
➠. Let’s strengthen our ties with Quebec and Manitoba to make better use of our renewable energy and to store surplus power. It just makes sense to work with our renewable energy-rich neighbours instead of remaining reliant on U.S. dirty gas. Let’s get to work on expanding our east-west electricity grid right away.
➠. Let’s help Ontario residents get off gas by supporting the installation of heat pumps. Right now, the province’s incentives for installing air-source heat pumps in gas-heated homes (up to $2,000) are much lower than for homes reliant on electric heat (up to $7,500). Let’s give everyone the same opportunity to benefit from this great gas-free technology by levelling up incentives for air-source heat pumps in gas-heated homes to $7,500.
We simply can’t lose by reducing our use of American fossil gas. In doing so, we can protect consumers and businesses from surging gas costs, improve air quality and health in our communities, and create new economic opportunities right here at home.
Please contact Premier Ford here – tell him to get Ontario out of the American gas trap ASAP.