Ontario releases long-term energy plan

subscribe

Ontario's updated Long-Term Energy Plan, Achieving Balance, encourages conservation and lays out a plan for clean, reliable and affordable energy for Ontarians, where and when they need it.

The 2013 Long-Term Energy Plan LTEP balances five principles that will guide future decisions: cost-effectiveness, reliability, clean energy, community engagement, and an emphasis on conservation and demand management before building new generation.

Compared to the previous plan, Achieving Balance is expected to reduce projected cost increases by $16 billion in the near term 2013-2017, and $70 billion to 2030. These cost reductions will be realized even as Ontario keeps its commitment to phase out the last of its coal-fired generation by the end of 2014.

Ontario will achieve balance in the energy sector by:

- Decreasing the need for new supply by implementing conservation programs and standards to offset most growth in electricity demand over the next 20 years.

- Lowering costs for consumers. Compared to LTEP 2010, residential customers can expect to pay about $520 less over the next five years and $3,800 less to 2030, and industrial consumers can expect to pay $3 million less over the next five years and $11 million less to 2030.

- Expanding Demand Response programs to help achieve a 10 per cent reduction in peak demand by 2025. This is equivalent to approximately 2,400 megawatts under today's forecast conditions - equivalent to twice the average demand of Hamilton and Kitchener combined.

- Making new financing tools available to consumers starting in 2015, including programs to incent energy efficient retrofits to residential properties.

- Moving ahead with nuclear refurbishment at both Darlington and Bruce Generating Stations, beginning in 2016.

- Extending the phasing-in of wind, solar and bioenergy for three more years than estimated in the 2010 LTEP, with 10,700 megawatts online by 2021. By 2025 about half of Ontario's installed generating capacity will come from renewable sources.

- Developing a new competitive procurement process with the Ontario Power Authority for future renewable projects larger than 500 kilowatts.

- Continuing to encourage First Nation and Métis participation in transmission and renewable energy projects.

- Issuing an annual Ontario Energy Report to update Ontarians on changing supply and demand conditions, and to outline the progress to date on the LTEP.

Related News

California scorns fossil fuel but can't keep the lights on without it

SACRAMENTO - California wants to quit fossil fuels. Just not yet Faced with a fragile electrical grid and the prospect of summertime blackouts, the state agreed to put aside hundreds of millions of dollars to buy power from fossil fuel plants that are scheduled to shut down as soon as next year.

That has prompted a backlash from environmental groups and lawmakers who say Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approach could end up extending the life of gas plants that have been on-track to close for more than a decade and could threaten the state’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2045.

“The…

READ MORE
iran solar and wind

Iran to Become Regional Hub for Renewable Energies

READ MORE

powerlines

Florida says no to $400M in federal solar energy incentives

READ MORE

alberta-last-coal-plant-closes-embracing-clean-energy

Alberta's Last Coal Plant Closes, Embracing Clean Energy

READ MORE

Feds to study using electricity to 'reduce or eliminate' fossil fuels

READ MORE