Toronto, ON — Bryan Purcell, VP Policy and Programs, The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) made the following statement in response to the federal Clean Electricity Regulation announcement:
“We commend the federal government for recognizing the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) as a critical component of Canada’s net-zero strategy. Decarbonizing the electricity grid is essential not only for achieving cities’ climate goals, but also for enabling the electrification of transportation, buildings and industry, which will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and their associated emissions.
The CER marks important progress towards a cleaner and fairer electricity system by:
- Establishing emissions limits to reduce the use of fossil fuel generation and promote investment in non-emitting energy sources.
- Prioritizing public health by addressing the significant air pollution impacts of electricity generation, which contribute to approximately 150 premature deaths and $1.2 billion in health costs annually.
- Ensuring affordability and reliability, laying the groundwork for a clean energy future accessible to all Canadians.
While the CER represents a significant step forward, we are concerned that changes in the final regulation weaken its emissions impact. A clear and ambitious framework is essential to achieving a net-zero electricity grid, but the CER misses the mark in several areas:
The shift to unit-specific emissions limits is a sensible way to improve flexibility, but when combined with expanded end-of-life provisions, it allows fossil fuel facilities to operate for longer, delaying the necessary transition to non-emitting resources. Additionally, the higher emissions performance standard enables greater utilization of natural gas plants, undermining progress towards a net-zero electricity grid and reducing the urgency for meaningful emissions reductions.
These concessions, while intended to balance stakeholder concerns, introduce unnecessary delays and risks into Canada’s clean energy transition. According to the government’s analysis, these changes cut the emissions impact of the CER nearly in half, allowing an additional 161 million tonnes of carbon pollution to be emitted.
In Ontario, these changes are particularly concerning. Carbon emissions from electricity in the GTHA rose by 850,000 tonnes in 2023, representing a 30% increase over the previous year. Grid emissions have more than doubled over the past four years, according to data from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and are expected to double again in the next three years.
To close these gaps and ensure Canada stays on track to a net-zero electricity grid, the federal government must:
- Introduce supplemental policies to provide targeted support for renewables and energy storage.
- Collaborate with provinces and municipalities to modernize the grid and deploy non-emitting energy infrastructure faster.
- Provide targeted funding to accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuel electricity in Canada, ensuring a clean energy advantage that attracts companies, investments and jobs.
We call on the Ontario government to take bold leadership in implementing policies and investments that prioritize non-emitting energy sources, modernize grid infrastructure, and align provincial electricity planning with Canada’s net-zero objectives. This is a pivotal opportunity for Ontario to position itself as a clean energy leader while addressing rising grid emissions and improving resilience across the province.”
Media Contact
Julie Leach
Senior Manager, Communications
jleach@taf.ca | 416-393-6382
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