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Clean Air, Climate Change, and Clean Energy in Ontario |
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TORONTO, ONTARIO, Apr. 13 -/E-Wire/--
Perhaps nowhere else in the world is the intersection of energy and environmental issues more pressing than in Ontario and the Great Lakes region. The industrial epicentre of North America is at the forefront of the greatest challenges that business and society may face in the next century: the need to balance economic growth and energy supplies with clean air and climate change.
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One cannot minimize the challenge of reconciling the economic and environmental imperatives of a region that accounts for 12 percent of the world's GDP, generates 30 percent of US and 45 percent of Canada's exports, and has a population of over 48 million people. Business and government leaders must confront energy, air pollution, and climate change to develop sustainable, competitive solutions.
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To address energy needs, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) plans to add 15,000 Megawatts (MW) of energy supply or conservation resources before 2015, and a further 15,000 MW by 2030.
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This will mainly be met by new renewable energy sources, natural gas-fired generation, refurbished nuclear power, and conservation programs to improve energy efficiency. Ontario hopes to become North America's leading renewable energy producer, with 15,700 MW installed by 2025. At least 5,000 MW of that is expected to be wind power, a huge jump from the 415 MW of current capacity.
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A major policy lever for encouraging small-scale renewable energy producers is the OPA's Standard Offer Program, which gives small scale (less than 10 MW) renewable energy generators a fixed price for electricity generated to the provincial power grid.
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The province is also planning a $600 million expansion of the existing transmission corridor from the Bruce region to allow access to 1,700 MW of new renewable generation.
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Clean Air and Climate Change
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Ontario's long term energy plan will do much to address the province's greenhouse gas emissions. Coal power will be phased out within the next few years, with some capacity left in place as backup power until 2014.
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Even so, Ontario will continue to struggle with high levels of smog. The Southern region of the province consistently has the highest recorded levels of ground-level ozone and particulate matter in the country.
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Much of this pollution comes from the industry that drives Ontario's economy, but emissions in the entire Great Lakes region affect cities on either side of the border with the United States.
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Accordingly, Ontario is working with Northeast States to address issues such as smog, airborne toxics including mercury, acid deposition, and climate change.
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Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty recently expressed interest in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a group of seven Northeast states that have established a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions to current levels beginning in 2009. Ontario's own emissions trading program for nitrous oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) could lead to a possible future cross-border program for all emissions.
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Emissions trading, urban smog, renewable energy, nuclear power, coal, industrial growth and population expansion - there is no doubt that Ontario is at the nexus of energy and the environment.
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An Opportunity to Connect
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The enormity of this challenge necessitates dialogue among all stakeholders. The opportunity for such discussion will come at the EECO Environment and Energy Conference, the premier bi-national business and environment forum that puts a spotlight on critical market risks and opportunities in the region, June 19-20, 2007.
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EECO is focused on three issues which require new solutions and innovative approaches if business in the Great Lakes Region is to maintain a sustainable development path: Clean Energy, Climate Change, Clean Air.
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A full list of speakers and a conference program are available at www.eeco2007.com. Contact Info:
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Dr. John Wiebe
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President and CEO
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Tel : 604-775-7300 Website : the GLOBE Foundation of Canada
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