Presumably in response to the more than 30 municipalities in Ontario (where >50% of Ontarians live)  making  requests to the Province to phase out gas fired generators the IESO (Independent Electricity Supply Operator) has launched a consultation on this. On June 24 9:00-11:00 AM there is an engagement webinar to which the public is invited. Reason for attending is to learn more about the current supply mix for electricity in Ontario. Stakeholders have been invited over the last month to submit questions and comments.  You can read here the feedback that I have submitted as an individual.

Some history

July 8th, 2019 King Council passed a resolution declaring a climate emergency. One of the identified reasons for doing so was “WHEREAS there is a need for urgent and transformative action to reduce GHG to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees to avoid catastrophic climate change.”

November 30th 2020 King Council passed unanimously a resolution requesting the province to phase out the gas fired generators as part of the supply mix for our electricity. Reasons for the resolution included that the use of the generators was to be increased significantly which would increase emissions by more than 300% by 2025  and we would lose 1/3 of the GHG reduction achieved by shutting down cold in 2017.

If you too believe that there needs to be a change in the plan for supplying electricity to Ontario I urge you, at very bare minimum, submit a letter to the IESO at engagement@ieso.ca.  The message that they must hear:

• identify a roadmap for eliminating  gas fired generators in Ontario by 2030
• the new sourcing plan must include accessing water sourced electricity from Quebec and other renewables such as solar and wind
• provide the capital costs for doing so.

If you are interested in doing more you can register to attend the  June 24 IESO webinar. For further information about the issue I suggest you access the extensive studies done by the Clean Air Alliance.

..