The University of Toronto could generate a quarter of its electricity from on-site solar power, according to our new report.
Despite U of T’s ambitious climate and sustainability goals, existing solar installations currently supply less than 1% of the university’s total electricity needs. Our new report, Scaling Solar Power at the University of Toronto, finds that it could increase that figure to 25% by taking advantage of suitable rooftops and parking lots across its three campuses.
More solar power would benefit U of T, Toronto and Ontario by:
- helping the University achieve its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction and sustainability goals.
- helping phase-out Ontario’s polluting gas-fired power plants, including the Portlands gas plant on Toronto’s waterfront – the city’s largest smog and climate polluter.
- helping lower the electricity bills of all Ontario electricity consumers by reducing the need for much higher cost new nuclear reactors.
- improving Ontario’s energy security by reducing our reliance on fossil gas imported from the United States.
- creating good clean-energy jobs in Toronto, including opportunities for U of T graduates.
- giving students practical opportunities to learn about solar energy and other rapidly growing renewable-energy technologies.
- helping make the University a beacon of hope for a more sustainable world.
To learn more, please click here to download our new report: Scaling Solar Power at the University of Toronto.
What you can do:
Please send a message to University of Toronto President Melanie Woodin and ask her to develop and implement a plan to achieve 50% of U of T’s on-site solar electricity generation potential by 2030, and 75% by 2035.