Ontario’s Energy Grid and the Ontario Clean Air Alliance

  • Kristen Schaper

Ontario’s power supply is split between a variety of sources, including solar, wind, biofuel, gas, and hydro power. Each of these sources are greatly outweighed by the province’s nuclear energy supply, which meets 60% of Ontario’s energy demands.1 While renewable energy is establishing itself as a viable alternative, Ontario is still reliant on the aging nuclear power system, which according to the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, is no longer seen as an innovative alternative to coal power. In fact, the key element in this energy system is very costly, as many of Ontario’s nuclear power plants need updating through the replacement of nuclear reactors. Accordingly, the decision to further invest in nuclear power plants is a pressing issue for the Government of Ontario.

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA), is a not-for-profit organization that has campaigned for a 100% renewable energy grid since 1997. The OCAA was instrumental in the successful push to phase out coal power in Ontario, making this action the world’s first large-scale phase out of coal power. In 2003, Ontario made a commitment to closing its five coal power facilities, starting with Mississauga’s Lakeview Generating Station, which officially ceased operations in 2005.2 This decision led to a drastic decrease of smog advisory days in the GTA, which were at a record high in 2005 with 15 advisories covering a total of 53 days. Compare to 2018, where Ontario experienced only two special air quality statements and no smog and air health advisories.3

In another successful campaign, the OCAA was instrumental in advocating for the conservation of power as a cost-effective alternative and helped to reduce the energy demand in the province by 18%. Since this campaign, the OCAA has turned its focus towards the shift from nuclear energy to buying surplus hydroelectric power from the neighbouring province of Quebec. By obtaining data directly from the Independent Electricity System Operator, Hydro Quebec, and Ontario Power Generation4 the OCAA has as compiled research demonstrating that as an alternative to nuclear energy, hydro power would lower the price of electricity for the province, steering Ontario toward a more environmentally-friendly energy future.

An OCAA report suggests that the Ontario Government’s proposals to reduce spending on a variety of programs could be avoided by buying low-cost water power from Quebec.5 The OCAA suggests that this decision would cut $1.8 billion from the Ontario Government’s deficit. This makes for an easy alternative, but not without some hiccups. Phasing out nuclear power in Ontario would mean a loss of jobs at nuclear power plants and a reliance on obtaining power from Quebec. However, these implications could also have an opposite effect as the removal of nuclear power plants (and the corresponding jobs) would open more room for careers in the green energy sector. While Ontario has previously been successful in buying hydro power from Quebec through small contracts, a larger contract would necessitate Quebec’s construction of additional dams. Along with the construction of new dams comes environmental and ecological destruction as well as danger for those working on site. For example, in 2017, construction of the Romaine dam was halted when four workers lost their lives.6

The OCAA has released a report comparing all of Ontario’s electricity options.4 At over four times the cost of buying Quebec’s water power, nuclear energy is the most expensive alternative and this option will almost double in cost by the year 2025. Keeping energy supply within Ontario and switching to wind power, the best alternative, would only save Ontarians 0.2 cents per kWh. With the OCAA’s well-researched cost comparison, it begs the question: why does nuclear power persist as the default option? This may be due to the path-dependency of energy systems where governments invest in large energy projects, such as a nuclear power site and consequently lock their economies into this investment without fully considering the long-term impacts of this decision.7 In the case of nuclear power, long-term effects include the storage and safety measures required to manage nuclear waste, which continues to be a concern to public and environmental safety.8

To keep up the momentum of the OCAA’s voice within the energy industry after the phase out of coal power in Ontario, the organization publishes studies, bulletins, newsletters, and petitions on their website. Their most recent petition asks the Ontario Government to lower electricity bills in the province through a deal with Quebec.9 In addition to their existing strategies, the next step for the OCAA is to advocate for the Pact for a Green New Deal, a national initiative working toward a 100% renewable energy system across Canada. The Green New Deal will emphasize pushing the Government of Canada to divest from fossil fuels and move toward a future of renewable energy. With its existing successes whose net effect have been cleaner air in the province, the OCAA is sure to be an important player in the challenges that lie ahead in the movement for sustainable energy generation.



Kristen Schaper is a recent graduate of the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Her interests lie within conservation and outreach. She currently works with Credit Valley Conservation Authority and brings educational workshops, presentations, and outings to over 2000 youth within the Credit River Watershed.

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