While North American banks are busy cutting red tape for the fossil fuel industry, wouldn’t it be a better time to shine a light on regulations that are impeding business in the cleantech sector?
In this current, chaotic moment, cities, provinces, and the Canadian government are united in looking for ways to cost-effectively and quickly scale domestic and local economic development. Regulators can unlock significant job growth and efficiency by removing barriers to clean energy technologies. Further, they can create jobs, build up local supply networks, and insulate our energy sector against international forces beyond our control.
Our rabbit hole into “climate red tape”
Our team started exploring these red tape issues before the onset of the trade war. Through meetings with various industry representatives – construction trades, manufacturers, heat pump and solar installers – we started tracking various complaints about outdated regulations blocking businesses from implementing solutions that are central to cities’ climate plans.
We identified municipal bylaws, provincial legislation, and utility processes that were created decades ago, long before heat pumps or EVs were on the market. None of them were intentionally set to impede climate action – but all of them are now slowing it down.
What we discovered in outdated bureaucracy
Here are just a few of examples that need attention:
- Zoning bylaws in Toronto and Mississauga effectively ban putting heat pumps in front yards, forcing homeowners and contractors to find expensive workarounds. No one is quite sure why the restrictions were created decades ago. These rules are slowing adoption and must be updated to reflect current market and technological realities including increasing consumer demand.
- The Province of Ontario’s moratorium on wind power has lasted too long. We are facing an electricity shortage in our grid-constrained urban centres, and communities that want to host offshore wind should have that choice, including the allowance to work with operators to develop and invest in projects. We recommend lifting the moratorium.
- Local utilities can do a lot to reduce barriers for homeowners to adopt rooftop solar. Connection fees, long wait times, and confusing procedures are making solar adoption in Ontario glacially slow compared to other jurisdictions. The Ontario Energy Board should step in and set rules and guidelines for connecting solar to the grid.
Read the specifics in our regulatory reform in submissions to the City of Toronto and Province of Ontario.
And we’re sure there’s more. Send us your input.
This is a prime opportunity for our governments, utilities, and regulators to adopt a “let’s build” approach to scaling modern, efficient and green solutions in our region. If you’ve encountered “climate red tape” let us know: policy@taf.ca. Or contact your MPP with ideas for provincial legislation, and your local councillor for municipal bylaws.
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