Ontario's electricity system has been described as being in a crisis. Oversupply in the 1990s halted early efforts on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Then the need to repair broken down nuclear plants lead to huge increases in polluting coal-fired electricity generation. The partial abandonment of experiments with competitive markets added to the confusion.

Electricity Options

The province of Ontario is considering its electricity options for the future: a path based on energy efficiency and renewable energy or one based on nuclear power and coal.

In 2004, the Pembina Institute provided the first comprehensive assessment in more than a decade of energy efficiency and low-impact renewable energy potential in Ontario in its report Power for the Future.

Two key findings of that report were that:

1. power demand in Ontario could be reduced by the equivalent of 15,000 MW by 2020
2. a total of 9,600 megawatts (MW) of identified potential wind, biomass and small-scale hydro generating capacity could be in place by 2018.

Since then, we've followed every twist and turn in the evolution of the province's electricity policies. We've provided briefs and submissions on the province's electricity planning and energy efficiency legislation, the Ontario Power Authority's supply mix advice report, Government of Ontario's June 2006 Supply Mix Directive to the Authority, the Authority's Integrated Power System Planning process and the Environmental Assessment and Ontario Energy Board review processes on the Power Authority's plan.

Our team has provided follow-up assessments of Ontario's progress in implementing energy efficiency measures and renewable energy production, as well as recommendations for advancing a sustainable electricity system for the province.

Our 2006 report, A Quick Start Energy Efficiency Strategy for Ontario, provided a series of model energy efficiency programs that could and would move Ontario quickly towards the government's goal of a "conservation culture". Recommendations drawn from experiences in California, Vermont and New York were applied to Ontario to demonstrate how the province could better manage energy demand.

On the supply side, the Pembina Institute has produced comprehensive studies on the risks, impacts and sustainability of nuclear power and the technical viability and environmental and economic performance of so-called "clean coal" power technologies and the potential for carbon capture and storage in Ontario.

Members of our team give numerous presentations on electricity, energy efficiency and renewable energy issues in Ontario and have been quoted extensively in leading print and electronic media in Ontario on electricity and renewable energy issues in the province.