Toronto — The recent projections by the OPG Review Committee (the Manley Committee), Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force, and Independent Market Operator have seriously underestimated the potential contributions that energy efficiency could make to reducing Ontario's future electricity demand. That is the conclusion of an interim report on the future of Ontario's electricity system released today by the Pembina Institute and Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).
The interim report released today is based on the findings of a study to investigate the potential contributions of energy efficiency measures, non-utility cogeneration, and low-impact renewable energy sources to Ontario's electricity supply over the next 15 years being conducted by the two organizations.
"Our research shows that electricity grid demand could be reduced by 40% against business-as-usual projections through the adoption of currently available energy efficient technologies, increased cogeneration, and switching from electricity to natural gas for heating purposes," said Dr. Mark Winfield, Director of the Pembina Institute's Environmental Governance Program, adding that "an $18 billion investment would be needed to achieve these reductions, but over 96% of the investment would be recovered by consumers through energy savings."
"Our results highlight the choices faced by the province. Providing the amount of electricity that could be saved through efficiency by constructing new nuclear generating plants would entail a capital cost of over $32 billion, underwritten by taxpayers, and entail enormous environmental, health, safety, and security risks," said Theresa McClenaghan, Counsel with the CELA.
The interim report is available at www.pembina.org and www.cela.ca.
The final report, outlining a vision and implementation plan for an environmentally and economically sustainable electricity system for Ontario, will be released at the end of April 2004.
For more information:
Mark Winfield, Ph.D.
Pembina Institute
Tel: 416-978-5656
Cell: 416-434-8130
Theresa McClenaghan
Canadian Environmental Law Association
Tel: 416-960-2284 ext. 218