Last night, Kingston City Council made it overwhelmingly clear where it stands on addressing our current climate crisis: YES to renewables, efficiency and battery storage; NO to polluting gas-fired electricity generation.
Through motions and amendments, the city made its opposition to new gas-fired generation black and white, and in doing so sent a message to our provincial electricity planners and Energy Minister Todd Smith that Kingston cares about action on climate change.
Unfortunately, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and Minister Smith seem to care a whole let less as they continue their quest to hugely ramp up gas-fired generation, using empty threats about potential blackouts to try to coerce communities into accepting more polluting gas. It didn’t work in Thorold or Toronto, and now Kingston has also made it clear it won’t be intimidated.
Kingston’s proactive stance is something other cities should take note of, particularly Brampton, Halton Hills and King Township, which are all facing huge increases in gas use in existing gas plants, and more pollution in their communities. It is time for these communities to also say “yes to renewables, no to more gas.”
It was Kingston residents like Aric McBay of the Providence Centre who turned things around in their community when city staff appeared willing to do the IESO’s bidding. Deputy Mayor Wendy Stephen heard what residents were saying and moved an amendment to ensure the city clearly expressed that it would not be a willing host for a gas plant. Together, they set an important precedent for citizens and councils working together to stand up for their communities and not get snowed by dubious claims made by the IESO and fossil gas companies.
It may serve the interests of big fossil fuel companies to increase gas burning, but it sure isn’t in the interest of communities where current gas plants are located, or where the Ford government wants to build new ones. And it doesn’t serve the people of this province who are already seeing the growing impacts of climate change. It is important that communities make it clear where they stand – with their residents, not with fossil fuel interests.
Send your own message to Doug Ford and Minister Smith that Ontario must invest in renewables and conservation now.