Toronto-Danforth Candidate Responses
Denise Walcott
1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes
2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes
Additional comments
Yes. I support expanding local solar generation where it is financially responsible and technically appropriate. The City should make better use of rooftops, parking facilities and other suitable public assets, while ensuring that projects demonstrate clear long-term value for taxpayers.
Devyn Stackhouse
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
Dianne Saxe
1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes
2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
Plug in solar, which is spreading around the world, can dramatically help solar adoption by making it much easier and more affordable. Solar is even more powerful paired with storage, some of which can be provided by current and retired EV batteries.
Toronto Hydro can do the offshore wind feasibility study, if so directed by Council and if the City agrees to fund it.
George Fawcett
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
Jason Stevens
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
Maqsood Ahmad
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
Maria Voutsinas
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
Mary Fragedakis
1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes
2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
I support expanding Toronto’s use of clean, locally generated energy while making sure decisions are based on sound evidence, affordability and value for residents.
Toronto should make better use of City-owned buildings, parking lots and other suitable public assets for solar generation, while making it easier for residents and businesses to invest in solar where it makes sense. A plan should identify realistic targets, costs, grid requirements and opportunities to leverage funding from other levels of government.
I also support a preliminary feasibility study of offshore wind in Lake Ontario. Studying an option is not a commitment to build it. It gives us the information needed to understand the costs and benefits, potential locations, environmental impacts and implications for Toronto Hydro and ratepayers before making any decisions.
Toronto should be ambitious about reducing emissions and building a cleaner, more resilient energy system, while ensuring that investments are practical, affordable and deliver measurable benefits.
Michael Mitchell
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
Sara Ehrhardt
1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes
2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
The need to move away from gas fired power to renewable energy in Toronto is obvious. Not only will it help the fight against climate change but it will also reduce local air pollution. On top of that, done right, it can provide a source of income for the City and for Toronto Hydro as well as reducing overall energy costs. City leadership is crucial in all these areas.
Susan Chapelle
1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes
2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes
Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.
Additional comments
I support the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro developing a plan to substantially increase local solar generation, including rooftops, City assets, commercial and industrial properties, parking lots and solar paired with storage. The proposed target should be tested against grid capacity, installation capacity, cost, and Toronto’s capital and electricity infrastructure plans. I support ambitious targets, but they must be achievable, funded and integrated with the infrastructure required to deliver them, including delivery. Toronto is already facing significant electricity demand growth from housing, transit, building electrification and economic development. Local generation can improve resilience and reduce peak demand, but it should be planned alongside storage, land use, demand management, transmission capacity and Toronto Hydro’s grid investments.
Yes, BUT it must be a genuine Lake Ontario feasibility and capacity study. I would not base decisions on capacity factors derived from U.S. offshore wind farms or modelling assumptions not validated for Lake Ontario. This is a freshwater system with seasonal ice, different wind conditions, depths, geology and operating constraints. The study should establish actual wind resource, capacity factor, ice loading, foundations, grid connections, environmental impacts and true cost per unit of electricity. Study first, then decide. We need evidence specific to this lake before Toronto commits to generation target or project.