More wind energy essential to ensure affordable, sustainable and reliable electricity in Ontario over coming decades
New wind energy is low-cost, emissions-free, and mitigates future supply risks, making it the energy of choice for Ontario's Long-Term Energy Plan.
OTTAWA, Dec. 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Important considerations for the future of Ontario's electricity supply such as affordability, protection of the environment, and power system reliability are key themes addressed in the Canadian Wind Energy Association's submission to the province's Long-Term Energy Plan.
New wind energy is now being contracted for as low as 6.45 cents per kilowatt hour in Ontario, well below the average cost for electricity generation of 11.14 cents as of May 1, 2016. Wind costs are forecast to continue declining while costs for other forms of new or refurbished generation are increasing. A low-cost emissions-free source of electricity generation, wind energy will be essential if the province is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent in 2050 as clean electricity will be needed to substitute for fossil fuels in transportation, industries and buildings. Wind energy can also play a major role in protecting Ontario's supply reliability, helping to mitigate potential risks associated with nuclear life extensions and refurbishments, natural gas commodity and carbon costs, and shortfalls in achieving conservation and demand management goals.
To maximize these benefits for Ontario customers, all new generation needed in the coming years should be procured competitively in order to secure the lowest-cost non-emitting electricity generation, as this provides the best value for consumers.
Quotes
"More wind energy capacity has been installed in Canada over the last decade than any other form of electricity generation. In that time, Ontario has become Canada's wind energy leader and Ontarians will be best served in the future by a Long-Term Energy Plan that builds on this foundation and increases Ontario's reliance on its vast untapped low-cost and emissions-free wind energy resources to meet both economic and environmental objectives."
Robert Hornung, President, CanWEA
"Wind energy is well positioned to help Ontario achieve its Climate Change Action Plan goals, to increase the affordability of electricity generation in Ontario, and to protect supply reliability at a time when there are growing risks to future electricity supply on the horizon. At the same time, the wind energy industry will continue to be a source of clean-tech jobs, investment, and community benefits throughout Ontario."
Brandy Giannetta, Ontario Regional Policy Director, CanWEA
Background
- CanWEA's Submission to EBR posting 012-8840 (http://canwea.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/canwea-ltep-submission-dec2016-web.pdf)
- Blog by CanWEA's Brandy Giannetta – December 20, 2016: CanWEA's LTEP submission focuses on price, environment and reliability (http://canwea.ca/canweas-ltep-submission-focuses-price-environment-reliability/)
About the Canadian Wind Energy Association
CanWEA is the voice of Canada's wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy. A national non-profit association, CanWEA serves as Canada's leading source of credible information about wind energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits. Join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Learn more at www.canwea.ca.
SOURCE Canadian Wind Energy Association
Tracy Walden, Director of Media and Communications, Canadian Wind Energy Association, 613-915-4857, [email protected]
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