natural gas

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.

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.

Ontario’s repeated failure to produce a natural gas conservation plan

9/2021 - The Ontario Energy Board delayed approving a new natural gas conservation plan, extended the old framework to 2022, and froze the budget without even adjusting for inflation. Real investment in gas conservation shrinks, even while diverse voices make a case for increasing investment in cost-effective conservation.

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.