Our friends at the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) note that the latest (March 2016) IESO planning outlook up to 2035 for the Ontario electrical grid has been issued. The outlook can be downloaded at:
http://www.ieso.ca/Documents/consult/sac/SAC-20160323-Ontario-Planning-Outlook.pdf
The IESO now confirms that carbon dioxide emissions will nearly double over the next 20 years as Ontario reduces its reliance on nuclear power, and increases its reliance on wind and solar generation with natural gas backup (see slides 19 and 23).
This rise in emissions was identified in an OSPE report in March 2012 titled “Wind and the Electrical Grid”. The report can be downloaded at:
https://www.ospe.on.ca/public/documents/advocacy/2012-wind-electrical-grid.pdf
Recent OSPE studies show that we can eliminate a portion of those additional emissions if we modify our electricity rates to enable surplus carbon-free electricity to economically displace fossil fuels used in other sectors for thermal and transportation needs. A presentation describing OSPE’s proposed voluntary smart electricity pricing plan can be downloaded at:
https://www.ospe.on.ca/public/documents/presentations/smart-pricing-ontario-electricity.pdf
3 Comments
John Vincent
This is ridiculous. Even if we assume CO2 is a problem which unto itself it isn’t, then getting rid of coal plants and replacing them with gas plants (wind and solar are expensive non productive decoration) we have accomplished nothing for a lot of money. Now they’re saying we have to pour more money at a non existant problem to make it look like its gone by replacing something else that’s going to come out of our pockets. This is the heigth of stupidity.
Face it people, green energy, which isn’t, is all about money. Now we have another way to squeeze money out of the populace. And these people call themselves professional engineers….give your head a shake.
Barbara
Natural gas plants to supply back-up power might have a carbon tax under the new cap-and-trade which will be passed on to Hydro customers.
This is all about increasing taxes. There are some dumb enough to think science can ordered up like fast food is. Or that technology can be forced.
These renewable energy projects are only possible due to all the tax breaks and incentives they receive. Legal or illegal.
marlene link
OPG ad on TV telling us all about closing down coal plants and making our air cleaner is utter nonsense as you know. Can anyone tell me how much those ads are costing us on our hydro bills and what good does the ads do.
It’s a waste of our money but that doesn’t surprise me.