Renewables to address climate change in Canada’s largest province
TORONTO, Ontario, CA, 2004-05-26 (Refocus Weekly)
The government of Canada will work with the province of Ontario to promote renewable energies under an agreement on climate change.
The memorandum is the fourth that has been signed with two other provinces
and one northern territory, to “explore cooperation” on renewables and
electricity supply, energy efficiency, conservation and fuels, environmental
management, innovation and technology, land resources and agriculture, impacts
and adaptation, and public awareness and education.
“Like the government of Canada, the province of Ontario is already taking
action on climate change, with initiatives to reduce emissions through energy
conservation, renewable energy, increasing the supply of cleaner fuels and
others," says federal environment minister David Anderson. "This
memorandum opens the door to new opportunities for Ontario and the Government of
Canada to work together to reduce emissions, and contribute to cleaner air and
more liveable communities across the province."
Anderson signed the memorandum of understanding with his provincial counterpart,
Leona Dombrowsky, which was also signed by federal energy minister John Efford
and his provincial counterpart Dwight Duncan.
“Ontario is committed to protecting the environment and human health by
reducing air emissions from all sectors,” says Dombrowsky. “We are proud to
work with our federal counterparts to take action on climate change that will
have real, positive benefits not just for Ontario, but for the whole world.”
The two levels of government will “facilitate the development of an
appropriate policy, investment and regulatory framework, to encourage increased
development and further implementation of clean and renewable electricity
generation.” They will also explore opportunities to facilitate replacement of
coal-fired power generation and increase energy efficiency and conservation to
reduce demand.
Ontario has announced its intention to shut down seven coal-fired plants and
will issue an immediate request for 300 MW of green power next month, with a
target of generating 5% (1,350 MW) of the province’s electricity from
renewables by 2007, and 10% (2,700 MW) by 2010.
The federal government has committed Cdn$3.7 billion to climate change programs,
and recently committed to the installation of 2,500 commercial earth energy and
1,000 solar thermal and biomass systems by 2008. It also has a ten-year $260
million incentive program for 1,000 MW of wind capacity.
“Climate change represents a global environmental and socio-economic issue of
unprecedented scope,” says the memorandum. “Given the global nature of
climate change, an unprecedented diversity of policies and measures will have to
be implemented by all orders of government.”
The five-year agreement has a clause that allows either party to terminate the
memorandum with 90 days' notice.
In March, the federal government signed a similar agreement with the province of
Manitoba to support renewables which “offer potential both for economic
development, new jobs and significant reductions to GHG emissions that
contribute to climate change,” while an agreement with Prince Edward Island
said development of wind energy is a priority. The northern territory of Nunavut
signed an agreement last October.
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