The Problem
Ontario prides itself on having a mostly clean electricity supply due to ending the use of highly polluting coal power. But Ontario’s electricity supply is about to get a lot dirtier.
Ontario is massively ramping up the use of “natural” gas – a fossil fuel – to generate electricity. Gas power creates greenhouse gas emissions which are bad for the climate and nitrogen oxides which are harmful to human health. Gas is also mostly methane – a potent greenhouse gas that is driving climate change in the near term.
The Solution
Ontario needs to phase out, not ramp up the use of fossil gas to generate electricity. And it’s possible if Ontario invests in clean solutions like solar and wind, along with battery storage which allows the energy to be used when needed.
But Ontario is planning to build new gas plants. Tell the Federal government to step in.
Where Gas Plants Could Be Built
Ontario has a large fleet of gas plants. There are plants around the GTA in Halton Hills, Brampton and Toronto, and a number of large plants in places such as Napanee and the Windsor area, for example. These plants were built as peaker plants but they are being used a lot more and polluting more. Now, the province wants to build even more plants in Windsor, St. Clair Township and Napanee. These gas plants could cost us a lot of money because they could be obsolete in 2035 when new federal regulations come into force.
In the Greater Toronto Area, the gas plants in Brampton, Halton Hills and Toronto are already among the region’s biggest polluters. Adding more gas generation will make these facilities a lot more polluting.
Find out more about these gas plants and why Ontario must phase out – not ramp up – fossil gas power.
BRAMPTON'S GOREWAY GAS PLANT
- Brampton's largest emitter of greenhouse gases which are bad for the climate
- Brampton's third largest emitter of nitrous oxides which are harmful for human health
- TThe GTA's fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases
THE HALTON HILLS GAS PLANT
- Halton Hills' largest emitter of greenhouse gases which are bad for the climate
- Halton Hills' largest emitter of nitrous oxides which are harmful for human health
- The GTA's second largest emitter of greenhouse gases
TORONTO'S PORTLANDS GAS PLANT
- Toronto's largest emitter of greenhouse gases which are bad for the climate
- Toronto's largest emitter of nitrous oxides which are harmful for human health
- The GTA's fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases
Take Action
At a time when we urgently need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Ontario is planning to increase them by using significantly more polluting fossil gas to generate electricity.
Take action and tell the Ontario government to ensure Ontario phases out gas plants.
Blogs
Greenhouse gas pollution from Ontario’s gas plants are set to increase by over 400 per cent by 2030 and by almost 800 per cent by 2040 (compared to the 2017 level).
But it doesn’t have to be this way – there are solutions including renewable energy, energy storage and energy efficiency.
Read about Ontario’s plan and how we can stop it
GET INVOLVED
If you live in one of the above areas with an existing gas plant and want to take action in your community, you can sign up for our newsletterand we’ll send you resources, action alerts, and event invites. You can also request a “No More Gas Plants” lawn sign here!
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