The Ford Government is proposing to build a new transmission line from the Pickering or Darlington Nuclear Stations to bring more high-cost nuclear power to downtown Toronto. The line will take seven to ten years to build.
In the interim, the output and pollution of the Portlands gas plant on Toronto’s waterfront will be ramped up even more to keep our lights on.
According to the Government’s plans, 75% of Ontario’s electricity will be provided by nuclear power by 2050 – up from 48.5% last year. Conversely, renewables will fall from 35% of our electricity supply in 2024 to 25% in 2050. We are going in the wrong direction.
It doesn’t make sense to increase Toronto’s dependence on high-cost nuclear power when energy efficiency and demand management, rooftop and parking lot solar, Lake Ontario offshore wind power and stationary and mobile (EV) battery storage can meet Toronto’s rising electricity demand at a lower cost and much sooner.
Instead of importing more high-cost nuclear power, we should be building a third line to downtown Toronto from a Lake Ontario offshore wind farm.
In June 2024 Toronto City Council requested the Government of Ontario to develop a plan to phase-out the Portlands gas plant by 2035 (except for emergency back-up) and meet Toronto’s electricity needs by “rapidly increasing local renewable energy generation and storage, and maximizing cost-effective energy efficiency.”
Unfortunately, Doug Ford has ignored the City’s request and is instead proposing an electricity plan which will increase the profits of Ontario Power Generation, GE-Hitachi, Cameco and Enbridge Gas while raising the electricity bills of Toronto’s hard-working families and businesses.
Please contact Premier Ford – tell him that you want the Government of Ontario to respect the wishes of the City of Toronto and develop a plan to phase-out the Portlands gas plant by 2035 (except for emergency back-up) and to lower our electricity bills by rapidly pursuing all of our cost-effective energy efficiency, demand management and local renewable and energy storage options.