Conservation: A Fiscally Responsible Approach to Energy

The primary focus of the GPO’s energy plan is to reduce demand. Ontarians are ready to embrace rigorous conservation efforts. However,
all current and previous governments have failed to provide energy consumers with the information to reduce their consumption and with programs to implement affordable options. The Green Party of Ontario will implement effective consumer programs to reduce energy consumption.

Reducing both peak demand and overall total consumption has a greater effect than reducing consumption only. Since the cost of generating and distributing electricity in Ontario is directly related to peak consumption, the GPO’s conservation plan emphasizes reduction of peak consumption, particularly air conditioning on hot summer days. The GPO’s target for 2020 is to reduce our peak by 50% per capita or lower it to 60% of projected consumption.

In the long term, we aim to reduce overall consumption to 25% of current demand. Our medium-range target is 75% of current consumption by 2020. This represents a daily household consumption of 18 kWh per day compared to the current value of 30 kWh per day, taking projected growth into account. The effective reduction target will be 60% of per capita consumption.

To achieve these goals, the Green Party of Ontario will:

■ Invest $16 billion over 15 years through loan guarantees, grants and tax credits for conservation and demand-management programs. The funding for this program will come from savings realized through the elimination of funding for new nuclear reactors and associated transmission capacity.

■ Allow electricity rates to increase over the next three years until they reach their true, unsubsidized cost and ban exports of non-emergency and non-renewable power. The most effective way to encourage conservation efforts is to charge the real cost for electricity. The GPO will create programs to mitigate these changes for low-income renters and home owners and northern communities.

■ Provide up to $150 million per year for a program for low-income households to convert from electric space heating to natural gas or renewable energy sources and technologies such as heat pumps or biomass. This program will provide low-income households with the resources to convert to more efficient and lower cost heating systems.

■ Double the maximum provincial energy-efficient grant for home owners to $10,000 per household. As part of this program, the GPO will increase the provincial grant for geothermal heating and cooling conversion to $5,250 and triple the provincial solar hot water heating conversion grant from $500 to $1,500. Many homeowners want to embrace energy efficiency, but may not have the resources to cover the initial costs. This program is a cost-effective way of reducing energy demand.

■ Create a 10-year $500 million grant program for municipal building projects that utilize green building technologies and LEED certification. As with homeowners, the GPO will partner with municipal governments to support conservation efforts.

■ Mandate the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to look at conservation and efficiency as a primary element of the Ontario energy mix.

■ Implement legislation requiring all new construction by 2010 to have solar water heating and energy-efficient home orientation for maximum solar benefit. All new swimming pool installations will require solar heating in order to qualify for a building permit.

■ Mandate the integration of conservation and environmental awareness into the common curriculum of both elementary and high schools in the province.

■ Implement legislation requiring GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emission and energy consumption labels on all appliances and energy-consuming devices.

■ Create a 2% tax on all large appliances that do not provide real-time electrical consumption information by 2010.

■ Advance the dates for Ontario Building Code (OBC) energy-efficiency targets for compliance to realize efficiencies and reduce energy costs for homeowners. Programs include EnerGuide 80 for homes (thermal envelope, building automation systems, lighting, mechanical systems, water), fullheight basement insulation, energy-efficient windows and high-efficiency furnaces.

■ Encourage conservation by reforming the Ontario Building Code as follows:
● Fully prescribe the Building Code Act and its regulations under the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) for the purposes of commenting on proposals and applying for reviews.
● Amend the 2006 Ontario Building Code to require all new homes to be built to a minimum of R2000 standards and all commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, including apartment buildings, to be built to a minimum of LEED-certified rating.
● Make retail sales tax (RST) refunds and other incentives available to those participating in the Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP). To assist property owners and contractors in complying with these requirements, the RST on retrofitting buildings meeting the approved standards or higher will be waived for the first five years and gradually phased back in over the next five years.
● Further amend the 2006 Ontario Building Code to simplify the approval process for the installation of environmental technologies. Create a knowledge bank of best practices for environmental technologies
relating to innovative design and installation methods, particularly those arising from implementation of the 2006 Ontario Building Code Objective-Based Format.
● Mandate a 30% heating-emission reduction over the 2007 Building Code. Canada already has several voluntary building codes that reduce the heat emissions by 30%, 40% and even 90% (Energy Star, LEED, Net Zero). This will add 1 to 2% to the cost of new buildings.

Renewables: Clean, green and affordable

The GPO has a comprehensive long-term plan to move Ontario to 100% renewable energy.

The transition to 100% renewables will begin with the implementation of full cost pricing for coal, nuclear and gas energy sources so that energy consumers attach full value to these resources. This will enable energy markets to function properly. It will lead to conservation and efficiencies, the natural development of renewable alternatives and proper demand management to prepare for peak oil/gas and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

Ontario’s coal-fired power plants are among Canada’s largest emitters of GHGs. Though these big polluters are due to be phased out, the timing is uncertain. The Green Party of Ontario will set a definite date for the closure of coal-fired plants by working with energy users to reduce consumption. In addition, the Green Party of Ontario does not believe that nuclear power plants, with their inherent economic and environmental shortfalls, are a viable alternative.

Through a dedicated approach to conservation and full support of renewable energy technologies, the Green Party of Ontario believes the province can meet its aggressive targets.

To achieve these goals, the Green Party of Ontario will:

Legislate

■ Immediately adopt legislation banning the construction of new nuclear reactors or the refurbishment of existing reactors, excluding regular maintenance that would extend their projected life span past 2025.

■ Phase out all coal-fired power plants by late 2009 if electricity users are able to reduce consumption by 20% through implementation of conservation and efficiency programs.

■ Ban exports of non-emergency and non-renewable power out of the province.

Innovate

■ Create a secretariat in the Ministry of Environment to coordinate information sharing and research on renewable technology. This should facilitate renewable energy development and help make Ontario a world leader.

■ Create a long-term supply management plan to provide regulatory stability in the renewable energy sector. This will encourage more private investment in renewable energy projects.

■ Provide $200 million over 10 years for converting government building heating systems to combined heat and power systems, which are more efficient. This will establish electric power generation closer to where it is being used in urban centres.

■ Work with municipalities to create renewable energy zones where wind projects will be pre-approved by the provincial government for environmental impact assessments. This proposal will lower the costs of renewable energy projects and expedite the development of renewable capacity, while addressing environmental impact concerns.

■ Create a peak-energy trading system for industrial users. This system will use market mechanisms to encourage business to use less power during peak times and reward those businesses that do.

Facilitate

■ Tie renewable-energy standard offer program (SOP) payment rates to the Ontario Consumer Price Index and create a sliding scale for wind power based on the wind availability at the build site. In addition, raise the SOP payment rate for photovoltaic systems to $0.50 per kWh from $0.42, and to $0.24 from $0.11 for all other technologies for the first 10 years to encourage investment in renewable energy projects.

■ Remove the 10 MW cap on standard offer program projects.

■ Facilitate the ability of small renewable energy generators to sell to the grid, removing barriers and creating more flexibility to ensure fail-safe operation while preserving stability. This program will encourage more citizens to become energy producers.

■ Direct Hydro One to establish grid connection charges at a rate proportional to rated power production. Ontario needs a more decentralized energy supply. Small-scale producers should not pay the same connectivity charges as large producers.

■ Negotiate with the federal government to allow a capital cost allowance of 100% in the first year for photovoltaic systems mounted on commercial structures. The GPO believes the tax system should encourage and reward business for doing the right thing.