electricity generation

Calling on cities to protect a clean electricity future

3/2024 - On February 16, the federal government released a discussion paper, proposing several changes to the CER. While some of these would provide helpful flexibility in the regulation, altogether they would represent a significant undermining of the policy. Municipalities have a powerful influence and can support the CER in three ways.

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.

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.

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.

Aerial drone view of a wind turbine in the foreground of a coal fired power generating station.

Clean Electricity Standard to set the stage for Canada’s energy transition

4/2022 - The federal government is now consulting on its Clean Electricity Standard to help Canada reach a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. With Ontario’s electricity emissions forecast to triple in the next decade, this is an important opportunity to provide feedback.

IESO study on gas phaseout misses the point

10/2021 - As electricity emissions increase exponentially in Ontario, TAF and others including industry leaders and 31 municipalities have advocated for a fair study to explore the alternatives. IESO's new study falls fatally short.

Toronto has an embarrassing gas problem

2/2021 - Toronto cannot achieve the net-zero carbon emissions target adopted by City Council unless Ontario’s gas-fired power plants are phased out. That's why council should adopt this motion as soon as possible.

What is plan for clean energy when Pickering nuclear plant closes?

3/2020 - TORONTO STAR - This TAF-funded reported proposes how to fill the post-Pickering gap with clean electricity solutions by 2025.

Left in the dark: Ontario municipalities need energy data for meaningful climate action

8/2017 - A proper carbon emissions inventory is a crucial starting point for city-level climate action. But unfortunately, many cities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), don't have gas and electricity consumption data - but utilities do. That's why TAF asked the Ontario government to make this data public.

TAF recognized for role in shutting down coal plants

2/2014 - TAF recently got honoured by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance for its critical role in bringing about the Ontario coal phase-out. TAF supported the OCAA-led push to close the coal plants with eight grants totaling $400,00. The successful campaign led to the shutdown of all coal-fired plants in Ontario, savings millions of tons of carbon emissions and drastically improving air quality for Ontarians.