Blog

Ontario energy planning is still missing its North Star

7/2023 - Ontario’s newly released energy strategy signals a growing openness to expanding the role of renewables, efficiency, and distributed resources. But one thing is missing: climate leadership.

What to make of IESO’s natural gas expansion, and what cities can do now

5/2023 - Ontario just announced the results of a competitive procurement process, which will expand natural gas-powered electricity generation capacity by up to 586 megawatts. What's next for cities who need to decarbonize?

Toronto climate priorities every mayoral candidate should get behind

5/2023 - Toronto’s next leader should put fast, effective climate action at the centre of the city’s cornerstone strategies for economic development, housing, transportation, health, and more. VP Bryan Purcell discusses three practical actions needed.

Heat pumps are ready for prime time. Bulk buying can pick up the pace.

5/2023 - One way to get heat pump purchases and installations faster in communities is to aggregate local demand and take advantage of bulk buying strategies, based on a new TAF-commissioned report. TAF Director, Ekaterina Tzekova’s new blog highlights what we learned.

An impact investor’s guide to the federal budget 2023

3/2023 - There’s a powerful opportunity for GTHA investors lurking just beyond view in the analysis of this week’s federal budget, the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the inevitable disconnects between the two.

A tale of two cities: What we learned from recent gas plant proposals

2/2023 - Two recent votes on proposed gas plant expansions in Ontario show the powerful potential for city councils to make the right choices on the road to a low-carbon future. But only if they get the facts and data they need to support their decisions.

Climate and quality of life in Canada’s budget 2023

1/2023 - The opportunity for Canada to support vibrant, low-carbon cities is upon us with budget season underway. TAF's 2023 federal budget recommendations emphasize key investments in heat pumps, EV charging in multi-family buildings, and distributed energy resources.

Will Ontario’s net-zero electricity grid cost $400 billion?

12/2022 - Decarbonization isn’t a barrier to affordability – it’s the key to an economical, reliable electricity grid. TAF provides analysis of the IESO's Pathways to Decarbonization study.

Ontario’s once-in-a generation opportunity to modernize and decarbonize our electricity grid

11/2022 - Since exploring how decarbonizing the grid would impact various communities, TAF commissioned a new report showing the most affordable way to meet rising electricity demand is through a mix of energy efficiency, solar, wind and storage.

The progress and pitfalls of decarbonizing a megaregion

11/2022 - The latest edition of the carbon emissions inventory for the GTHA shows that action is picking up speed but still nowhere near the critical pace needed for lift-off, and we are rapidly running out of runway.

Ontario’s next gas plant scandal

10/2022 - On October 7th, Ontario’s Minister of Energy directed the IESO to procure 1,500 megawatts of new natural gas plants to generate electricity. This decision was taken without any public consultation, based on a short IESO report with no financial analysis or comparison of other pathways. Amidst increasing fossil fuel prices and plummeting costs of readily available clean solutions, investing in new gas plants would be environmentally and fiscally reckless. But it’s not a done deal.

Dear election candidates: Climate action means working across issues and regional lines

10/2022 - To handle the complex and intersectional issues that face our region, hopeful new leaders will need to follow the carbon and collaborate.