Media Release: Long-Term Energy Plan Statement

Media Release

The Ontario Ministry of Energy launched its Long-Term Energy Plan consultation process last week. The Ministry will be travelling to communities across Ontario starting this month. The first session is in Toronto next Tuesday, October 25 at the YMCA at 20 Grosvenor Street from 5:00-8:00 pm.

The government’s announcement in late September to suspend the Large Renewable Energy procurement is moving us in the wrong direction.

A 100% renewable future is a win-win proposition. It is not only possible and essential for the environment, but is the most fiscally prudent option available to Ontario. The cost of renewables has declined dramatically and continues to decline. The old, outdated rhetoric about the high cost of renewables is simply not valid. On the other hand, the government has committed to spending billions of dollars to rebuild aging and risky nuclear power plants. This Long-Term Energy Plan needs to honestly assess the lower, declining cost of renewable energy against the high, and always increasing, cost of nuclear energy and the ever-present hazard from nuclear power plants to the public.

We strongly encourage community members to participate in the Long-Term Energy Planning process. Check the government’s website for details about how to participate and when the Ministry will be in or near your community here. We encourage community members to speak at the in-person sessions.

You can also participate by sending written comments to the Ministry by December 17, 2016 through the EnergyTalks consultation website https://talks.ontario.ca/energytalks or the Environmental Registry.

CELA, along with other environmental non-governmental organizations, will be coming out with more information on the issues raised by this consultation early next week. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us with any questions about how to participate in the Long-Term Energy Plan process or to discuss issues raised by the consultations. This is a chance for the community to tell the government that it should join the movement towards a 100% renewable future.

Theresa McClenaghan: theresa@cela.ca; 416-960-2284 x7219
Jacqueline Wilson: jacqueline@cela.ca; 416-960-2284 x7213