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Author Archives: energyprbe
There is a way out of this mess
The McGuinty Clean Air Plan, as it is described on the Ontario Liberals’ Web site, was designed to address a serious problem, indeed the most serious problem imaginable – simply, that "the air we breathe is killing us." Boldly confronting the crisis, the Liberals proposed what can only be called emergency measures: among them, a 5% reduction in the province’s electricity consumption by 2007, to be accomplished in part by shutting down all of its coal-fired generators.
Watchdog warns of dirty emergency
The Ontario government has started the tendering process for companies to provide emergency electricity power generators as an energy watchdog warned yesterday the stations are likely to be costly diesel units that spew black smoke and are located in residential areas.
One of the tender conditions is that the units must be capable of operating for a maximum of four hours a day between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Energy chiefs pull plug on Hampton
Toronto: Power industry players yesterday dismissed arguments by Howard Hampton, leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party, that last week’s massive electricity blackout means the provincial government should re-regulate the business.
Power plants on tap
Two new power plants fired by natural gas will be built near Sarnia in a $1-billion investment that will improve Southwestern Ontario air quality, as a dirtier, coal-produced power plant is closed. The Ontario government yesterday announced 20-year deals to build replacements for Ontario Power Generation’s aging Lambton generating station near Courtright.
NDP position on competition in the electricity sector
OFFICIAL NDP CAUCUS REPORT TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ONTARIO HYDRO NUCLEAR AFFAIRS (1997) – Appendix 7 p. 10 (1st Session, 36th Parliament, 46 Elizabeth II):
Re. "White Paper on Competition in the Electricity Sector":
Expect an initial shock on Ontario Hydro reform
"One day the unsoundness of the method must be apparent."
So warned James Mavor, a University of Toronto political economy professor, in The Financial Post in 1916, decrying the consolidation that created Ontario Hydro’s modern powers.
Ontario's White Paper: Learning from Australia to make its good principles work
The Ontario Government’s new White Paper, Direction for Change: Charting a Course for Competitive Electricity and Jobs in Ontario, is a marvellous achievement that if properly implemented will help cap liabilities against the public purse, lower electricity prices, and promote productive investment to the power sector. To guide the work that needs to be done to implement this vision, Ontario would do well to follow the successful approach to power reform used by the State of Victoria in Australia.
Energy Probe's position of power sector reform in Ontario
Hydro Utility to rein in compensation
TORONTO – The embattled board of directors at Ontario’s hydro utility yesterday caved in to a government ultimatum to reduce the lucrative salaries and compensation packages being awarded to senior executives.
But Conservative and corporate sources said the move casts doubt on plans to privatize the publicly owned utility.
Dirty energy plan
Letter to the Editor:
OTTAWA — Re Unfettered Electricity Markets Fuel Cynics In Alberta (June 6): Tom Adams of Energy Probe suggests that electricity deregulation in Alberta has helped the province move to a less coal-dependent power system. This offers a limited reflection of what’s really happening in this province.
Energy Probe 